Prediction and prevention of central nervous system relapse in patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma.

Because non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy with l-asparaginase has improved survival outcomes in patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL), the incidence of central nerve system (CNS) relapse can be different when compared with that in previous reports. In this research, we sought to identify the incidence of and predictors for CNS relapse and to evaluate the necessity of CNS prophylaxis with intermediate-dose methotrexate (ID-MTX). The records of 399 patients in the training cohort and 253 patients in the validation cohort with ENKTL who received non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the chemotherapy regimen included ID-MTX above 2 g/m2. A new central nervous system-prognostic index of natural killer (CNS-PINK) model was developed using 1-point powerful predictors of CNS relapse (PINK; hazard ratio [HR], 2.908; P = .030 and extranodal involvement [≥2]; HR, 4.161; P = .001) and was calculated as a sum of scores. The high-risk group of CNS-PINK was defined as 2 points. The cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was different between the CNS-PINK risk groups in the training (P < .001) and validation (P = .038) cohorts. Patients in the high-risk CNS-PINK group who were treated with SMILE or SMILE-like regimens with ID-MTX (S-ID-MTX) displayed a lower incidence rate of CNS relapse than did those who received other regimens without ID-MTX in the training cohort (P = .029). The CNS-PINK was demonstrated its strong predictability of CNS relapse in ENKTL patients. The effectiveness of S-ID-MTX in preventing CNS events in high-risk CNS-PINK patients should be verified in future studies.

Programmed Death Ligand 1 Expression as a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is associated with poor prognosis because of its aggressive and heterogeneous nature. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been considered a novel biomarker for prognosis and response of immune checkpoint inhibitors in various tumors. However, there are limited data reporting on the role of PD-L1 in advanced BTC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 186 patients with advanced BTC who received palliative gemcitabine and platinum between May 2010 and December 2019. All patients were evaluated for PD-L1 expression by combined positive score positivity. RESULTS: Of the 186 patients, the primary tumor location was intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) in 72 (38.7%), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) in 90 (48.4%), and gallbladder (GB) cancer in 24 (12.9%). Among all the patients, 53 (28.5%) had PD-L1 positivity. The median overall survival (OS) of patients with PD-L1 positivity or negativity was 12.1 and 15.4 months, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with PD-L1 positivity or negativity was 5.7 and 7.1 months, respectively. OS and PFS were not statistically different between groups. In subgroup analysis, EHCC patients with PD-L1 negativity had more favorable OS (17.2 vs. 11.6 months, p = 0.002) and PFS (7.8 vs. 5.4 months, p = 0.005) than those who were PD-L1-positive. However, this finding was not reproduced in patients with IHCC or GB cancer. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that PD-L1 expression might be a novel prognostic biomarker in patients with EHCC but not in patients with IHCC or GB cancer.

A prospective phase-II trial of biweekly docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy in patients with previously-untreated metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biweekly docetaxel plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer (mCNPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically-proven, previously-untreated mCNPC received ADT plus docetaxel, 40 mg/m2. Docetaxel was repeated every 2 weeks, up to 12 cycles. Endpoints included castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and safety. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were registered and analyzed for final outcomes. Of the 42 patients, 36 (86%) completed the 12 planned cycles of docetaxel plus ADT. During a median follow up of 25 months, all but two patients (95%) achieved a PSA response with a nadir PSA level of 0.42 ng/ml (range 0.01-1280.87). The median CRPC-free survival was 26.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.9-32.0) with a one-year CRPC-free rate of 79% (33 patients, 95% CI 66-91). Multivariable analysis revealed that the performance status of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0 was independently associated with longer CRPC-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-0.99). The most common adverse events of any grade were anemia (95%), followed by nail changes (33%), fatigue (29%), and oral mucositis (26%). Severe (grade 3 or higher) adverse events were infrequent: pneumonitis (n = 2), diarrhea (n = 1), and neutropenia (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that biweekly docetaxel plus ADT is feasible, and clinical efficacy does not seem to be compromised compared to a standard triweekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2 plus ADT regimen.

Comparison of first-line treatments of peripheral T-cell lymphoma according to regimen: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are known to have an aggressive clinical course and grave prognosis. Several recommended first-line treatment regimens are available, but identification of the superior treatment remain elusive. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine which study-level factors and group of regimens affect survival outcomes. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to January 2021, and phase II or III clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens were included. Random effects models were used to estimate 3-year overall survival rate, complete remission rate, and subgroup differences. Meta-regressions were carried out with adjustments for relevant covariates. Overall, 34 cohorts from 28 studies comprising 1424 PTCL patients were included in the pooled analysis. Chemotherapy regimens were divided into four groups: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP), CHOP plus etoposide, gemcitabine-based, and others. The pooled 3-year overall survival rate was 0.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-0.54) for CHOP, 0.61 (95% CI 0.52-0.70) for CHOP plus etoposide, 0.39 (95% CI 0.30-0.47) for gemcitabine-based, and 0.61 (95% CI 0.44-0.78) for others. CHOP plus etoposide was significantly better than CHOP, with the latter used as a reference (coefficient of 0.11; p = 0.035), with adjustment for the proportion of International Prognostic Index score 4-5 in meta-regression analysis. Although grossly divided groups were pooled and analyzed, among four regimen groups for frontline PTCL treatment CHOP plus etoposide showed better survival than CHOP.

The Prognostic Ability of RAS Pathway-Related Gene Mutations in Patients with Myeloid Neoplasms Treated with Hypomethylating Agents.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify genetic predictors of treatment response and survival in patients with myeloid neoplasms treated with hypomethylating agents (HMAs). METHODS: We performed next-generation sequencing on bone marrow aspiration samples of 59 patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts-2, or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and treated with decitabine or azacitidine as a frontline therapy. RESULTS: A single gene with the most common mutations was TP53 (14 of 59 patients), and mutations in RAS pathway-related genes including KRAS, NRAS, FLT3, PTPN11, CBL, and KIT were found in 28.8% of patients. The overall response rate to HMAs was 33.9%. Predictive factors for a poor response were an age >75 years (p = 0.007), 3 or more gene mutations (p = 0.004), mutations in RAS pathway-related genes (p = 0.033), and a mutated NRAS gene (p = 0.042). An age >75 years (hazard ratio 2.946), diagnosis of AML (hazard ratio 2.915), and mutations in NRAS (hazard ratio 4.440) were identified as poor prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, mutations in RAS pathway-related genes were predictors of a poor response to HMAs. Particularly, mutated NRAS was associated with inferior survival rates.

Regorafenib in patients with advanced Child-Pugh B hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicentre retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Regorafenib is an approved agent in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who progressed on sorafenib, but little is known about its clinical outcomes in Child-Pugh B patients. We aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of regorafenib in Child-Pugh B HCC patients. METHODS: This multicentre retrospective study included 59 patients with Child-Pugh B HCC who received regorafenib. Comparative analyses were performed with an independent cohort of Child-Pugh class A patients from the same registry (n = 440). RESULTS: The median age was 58 years (range, 19-83). All patients had progression on prior sorafenib. Regorafenib was given as 2nd line, and 3rd-4th line systemic therapy in 37 (62.7%) and 22 (37.3%) patients respectively. Compared to Child-Pugh A cohort, grade 3-4 AEs were more common in the Child-Pugh B cohort (27.1% vs 14.1%, P = .017). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1.8 and 4.6 months, respectively, and these were significantly poorer than the Child-Pugh A cohort (P = .008 and P < .001 respectively). Child-Pugh B patients with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 3 had a significantly higher frequency of increased bilirubin (P = .01 for any grade and P = .01 for grade 3-4) and showed significantly poorer OS (P = .021), compared to those with ALBI grade 1 or 2. CONCLUSION: Regorafenib's poor clinical outcomes and increased frequency of severe adverse events lead us to discourage its use in the Child-Pugh B population. In particular, regorafenib should not be used in Child-Pugh B patients with ALBI grade 3.

Regorafenib in previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Impact of prior immunotherapy and adverse events.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Regorafenib demonstrated a clinical benefit for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in the phase III RESORCE trial. Considering the heterogeneity of uHCC and discrepancies in its characteristics between prospective trials and daily practice, real-life evidence is necessary. METHODS: This multicentre, retrospective analysis was performed by the Korean Cancer Study Group. In total, 440 patients who received regorafenib between January 2017 and November 2019 were identified in nine tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: All patients received prior sorafenib, and the median time-to-progression (TTP) on sorafenib was 3.9 months (range, 0.2-71.6). Regorafenib was used as the second, third and fourth to seventh lines of therapy in 305 (69.3%), 115 (26.1%) and 20 (4.5%) patients respectively. According to the RECIST v1.1, the overall response rate was 7.7% (n = 34), and the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.2 (95% CI, 2.8-3.5) and 12.1 (95% CI, 9.7-14.5) months respectively. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were given in 115 patients (26.1%) prior to regorafenib. There were no differences in PFS and OS with regorafenib according to the prior use of ICIs (PFS, P = .61; OS, P = .63). The occurrence of hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) was associated with a better OS (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The real-life clinical outcomes of regorafenib for patients who progressed on prior systemic therapy including ICIs were consistent with the phase III trial results. HFSR was significantly associated with better OS with regorafenib.

Clinical Implication of Concurrent Amplification of MET and FGFR2 in Metastatic Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: c-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor receptor (c-MET) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) amplification have been identified as factors associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). While they are typically considered mutually exclusive, concurrent amplifications have been reported in a small subset of GC patients. METHODS: in this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of GC patients with MET and FGFR2 amplification using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) database cohort at Samsung Medical Center, which included a total of 2119 patients between October 2019 and April 2021. RESULTS: Of 2119 cancer patients surveyed, the number of GC patients was 614 (29.0%). Out of 614 GC patients, 39 (6.4%) had FGFR2 amplification alone, 22 (3.6%) had MET amplification, and 2 GC patients (0.3%) had concurrent FGFR2 and MET amplification. Two patients with concurrent FGFR2 and MET amplification did not respond to first-line chemotherapy. These two patients had significantly shorter overall survival (3.6 months) compared to patients with FGFR2 or MET amplification alone (13.6 months and 8.4 months, respectively) (p = 0.004). Lastly, we tested the existence of FGFR2 and MET in tumor specimens from different organ sites. Initially, the NGS was tested in a primary tumor specimen from stomach cancer, where the MET copy number was 14.1 and the FGFR2 copy number was 5.3. We confirmed that both MET and FGFR2 were highly amplified in the primary tumor using FISH (MET-CEP7 ratio = 5 and FGFR2-CEP7 ratio = 3). However, although the MET copy number was normal in peritoneal seeding using FISH, FGFR2 remained amplified using FISH (FGFR2-CEP7 ratio = 7) with high FGFR2 protein overexpression. Hence, there was intra-patient molecular heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: our findings suggest that concurrent amplification of FGFR2 and MET in GC patients is associated with clinical aggressiveness and may contribute to non-responsiveness to chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

E-Cadherin and Angiopoietin-2 as Potential Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer With Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: E-Cadherin has been implicated in cell-cell adhesion, and soluble E-cadherin is involved in angiogenesis and resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in several cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of soluble E-cadherin and other angiogenesis-related factors in plasma and malignant ascites of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on 95 body fluid samples (57 plasma and 38 malignant ascites) from patients with CRC. The status of E-cadherin and angiopoietin-2 (AGNPT2) was retrospectively evaluated by immunohistochemistry in primary CRC and paired metastatic peritoneal tissues or cell blocks of malignant ascites of 30 patients with peritoneal metastases of CRC. RESULTS: The expression levels of soluble E-cadherin and ANGPT2 in plasma samples were significantly increased in patients with PC compared with those without. E-Cadherin concentration was significantly lower and ANGPT2 concentration was significantly higher in malignant ascites than plasma samples. Expression of E-cadherin was strongly positive, whilst that of ANGPT2 was negative in primary colorectal tissues, metastatic peritoneal tissues, and cell blocks of malignant ascites by immunohistochemistry. High levels of soluble E-cadherin or ANGPT2 in ascites were negatively associated with overall survival in patients with CRC with malignant ascites. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that soluble E-cadherin and ANGPT2 may be surrogate biomarkers for clinical outcome in patients with PC from CRC.

Reducing tumor invasiveness by ramucirumab and TGF-ß receptor kinase inhibitor in a diffuse-type gastric cancer patient-derived cell model.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse-type gastric cancer (GC) is known to be more aggressive and relatively resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Hence, more optimized treatment strategy is urgently needed in diffuse-type GC. METHODS: Using a panel of 10 GC cell lines and 3 GC patient-derived cells (PDCs), we identified cell lines with high EMTness which is a distinct feature for diffuse-type GC. We treated GC cells with high EMTness with ramucirumab alone, TGF-ß receptor kinase inhibitor (TEW-7197) alone, or in combination to investigate the drug's effects on invasiveness, spheroid formation, EMT marker expression, and tumor-induced angiogenesis using a spheroid-on-a-chip model. RESULTS: Both TEW-7197 and ramucirumab treatments profoundly decreased invasiveness of EMT-high cell lines and PDCs. With a 3D tumor spheroid-on-a-chip, we identified versatile influence of co-treatment on cancer cell-induced blood vessel formation as well as on EMT progression in tumor spheroids. The 3D tumor spheroid-on-a-chip demonstrated that TEW-7197 + ramucirumab combination significantly decreased PDC-induced vessel formation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed TEW-7197 and ramucirumab considerably decreased invasiveness, thus EMTness in a panel of diffuse-type GC cell lines including GC PDCs. Taken together, we confirmed that combination of TEW-7197 and ramucirumab reduced tumor spheroid and GC PDC-induced blood vessel formation concomitantly in the spheroid-on-a-chip model.

Antitumor activity and safety of sirolimus for solid tumors with PIK3CA mutations: A multicenter, open-label, prospective single-arm study (KM 02-01, KCSG UN17-16).

BACKGROUND: PIK3CA contributes to cell growth via the PI3K-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Mutations in the pathway are frequently observed in solid tumors. We assessed the efficacy and safety of sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors with PIK3CA mutations or amplifications. METHODS: This was an open-label, single-arm, multicenter pilot study. Twenty-four patients with solid tumors harboring a PIK3CA mutation were treated with sirolimus between July 2017 and March 2019. Treatment was continued until disease progression, unacceptable adverse events, or death. The primary end points were the overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 6.1 months. Two patients with rapid disease progression-related death, one who withdrew, and one with a non-target lesion only were excluded from the analysis. Among 20 evaluable patients, 6 patients showed stable disease and 14 showed progressive disease (ORR 0%, DCR 30%). The median progression-free survival was 2.39 months (95% confidence interval, 1.97-2.81 months). The most common adverse event was abdominal pain (20.8%), followed by anemia (16.7%) and fatigue (16.7%). The adverse events were generally manageable. CONCLUSIONS: Although safe, sirolimus monotherapy did not show meaningful antitumor activity in chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors with PIK3CA mutations. Combinations of mTOR inhibitors for stabilization and other antitumor agents with beneficial effects on tumor volume may improve outcomes.

Docetaxel rechallenge in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: A retrospective, single-center study.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of docetaxel rechallenge in the salvage setting in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic data from patients treated with docetaxel rechallenge were collected from a single-center cancer registry. Among 227 patients who received first-line docetaxel for mCRPC between January 2011 and June 2019, 23 undergo rechallenge docetaxel after failure to androgen receptor targeting agents and/or cabazitaxel treatment. Endpoints included radiologic progression-free survival (PFS), treatment duration, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and safety. RESULTS: Overall, 30%, 44%, 13%, and 13% of patients received docetaxel rechallenge as either the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth-line therapy, respectively, at a median of 23.6 months after stopping first-line docetaxel. With first-line docetaxel and rechallenge, median treatment duration was 6.4 and 3.3 months, respectively. With docetaxel rechallenge, PSA response was 35% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15% to 54%) and median PFS was 4.5 months (95% CI, 1.9 to 7.1 months). The median OS was 24.3 months (95% CI, 4.6 to 44.0 months). There were 7 severe adverse events (grade 3 or more) including anemia (8.7%), neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, diarrhea, and nausea (4.3% each). CONCLUSIONS: Docetaxel rechallenge showed meaningful anti-tumor activity with acceptable toxicity in heavily pretreated patients with mCRPC.

Use of Gefitinib in EGFR-Amplified Refractory Solid Tumors: An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Single-Center Prospective Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for patients with chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors are limited. OBJECTIVE: We conducted an open-label, single-arm, single-center phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in patients with chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors and EGFR amplification or sensitivity to an EGFR inhibitor identified through a drug-screening platform with patient-derived tumor cells (PDCs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: EGFR amplification was detected by targeted sequencing. Sensitivity to an EGFR inhibitor was established in chemical screening using PDCs. Gefitinib (250 mg daily) was administered continuously in 28-day cycles until the occurrence of disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or death due to any cause. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: In total, 15 patients were assigned to the present study. The most common tumor type was glioblastoma multiforme (n = 9, 60%), followed by gastric cancer (n = 3, 20%), anal squamous cancer, rectal cancer, and sarcoma (each n = 1, 6.7%). Among 13 evaluable patients, one patient had a partial response and five had stable disease, with an ORR of 7.7% and a disease control rate of 46.1%. The median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-3.43). The most common adverse events were diarrhea (26.7%) and skin rash (26.7%). CONCLUSION: Gefitinib demonstrated modest anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile in chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors with EGFR amplification or sensitivity to an EGFR inhibitor identified through a drug-screening platform with PDCs. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02447419.

Impact of Prior Ramucirumab Use on Treatment Outcomes of Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: A taxane plus ramucirumab as second-line therapy followed by a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) in third line has become a standard treatment strategy for advanced gastric cancer. OBJECTIVE: Herein, we investigated the impact of prior ramucirumab use on the efficacy of third-line immunotherapy and performed an exploratory analysis to identify potential biomarkers for the success of immunotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients receiving CPI as a third-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer between January 2015 and March 2019. Clinicopathologic data, including patient characteristics, histopathologic reports, and treatment types and outcomes, were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 74 patients included in this study, 45 (61%) received nivolumab and 29 (39%) received pembrolizumab as a third-line CPI. For second-line therapy, 41 patients (55%) were treated with ramucirumab plus a taxane, and 33 (45%) received a chemotherapy regimen without ramucirumab. The disease control rates of CPIs were not statistically different according to prior use of ramucirumab. The overall survival (OS) with CPI was higher in patients receiving second-line therapy without ramucirumab compared with those receiving ramucirumab and taxane (5.6 vs 4.8 months, HR 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.96; p = 0.03); however, this was not significant in a multivariate analysis. Patients achieving a response to second-line ramucirumab and a taxane showed greater benefit from subsequent CPI treatment compared with those not achieving a response (median OS 9.9 vs 2.3 months, HR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07-0.54; p < 0.001) as found in an exploratory analysis. Multivariate analysis also showed that prior response to ramucirumab and a taxane was an independent prognostic factor of OS with third-line CPI. CONCLUSIONS: Response to ramucirumab and a taxane as a second-line treatment is an important prognostic marker for OS with subsequent third-line CPI. This data might provide useful information when applying CPIs as third-line therapies in advanced gastric cancer patients.

PD-1 inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer patients with special issues: Real-world evidence.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided new therapeutic options for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients. However, due to concerning increases in immune-related adverse events, clinical trials usually exclude patients with special issues such as viral hepatitis, tuberculosis (Tbc), interstitial lung disease (ILD) and autoimmune disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of NSCLC patients who received ICIs, and analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients with special issues. RESULTS: Between January 2015 and October 2018, 237 patients received ICIs. Of these patients, 26% (61/237) had special issues: 32 had hepatitis B viral (HBV) infections, 20 Tbc, six ILD, one HIV infection, one Behçet's disease and a past HBV infection, and one rheumatoid arthritis. The incidence of hepatitis tended to be higher in patients with HBV infections than in those without (18.8% vs 8.91%, P = .082). Severe hepatitis (grade 3 or higher) was more common in HBV-infected patients (12.5% vs 1.9%, P = .0021), but the AEs were well-managed. During ICI treatment, three of the 20 patients with a history of pulmonary Tbc developed active pulmonary Tbc, considered reactivations. No aggravation of ILD was noted. One RA patient experienced a disease flare and was treated with a low-dose steroid. There was no significant difference in the overall response rate or progression-free survival between patients with and without special issues. CONCLUSION: Given the relatively low incidence of immune-related AEs and the comparability of clinical outcomes, ICIs can be treatment option of NSCLC patients with special issues.

Benefit of Targeted DNA Sequencing in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Without EGFR and ALK Alterations on Conventional Tests.

BACKGROUND: Genetic sequencing testing has become widely used to inform treatment decisions for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We analyzed benefits of genetic sequencing testing in real practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 209 NSCLC patients who had no EGFR and ALK alterations on routine molecular tests and underwent next-generation targeted DNA sequencing of 380 cancer-related genes between November 2013 and October 2016. Median patient age was 59 years. A total of 96 patients (46%) were never smokers, and 195 patients (93%) had adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: Among 209 total patients, 64 (31%) demonstrated actionable genetic alterations; 20 had EGFR mutations (6 L858R, 8 exon 19 deletions, 1 L861Q, 1 G719S, 4 exon 20 duplications), 4 ALK fusions, 9 ROS1 fusions, 6 BRAF V600E mutations, 15 RET fusions, 1 MET high-level amplification, 6 MET exon 14 skipping mutations, and 3 ERBB2 exon 20 insertion mutations. Of the 64 patients harboring actionable alterations, 28 patients received therapy targeted to their own actionable alterations (15 EGFR, 3 ALK, 1 ROS1, 8 RET, 1 BRAF). There were significant differences in overall survival between individuals with no actionable alterations, those with actionable alterations but no targeted therapy, and those with actionable alterations and targeted therapy (20.1 vs. 17.1 vs. 66.2 months, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The results of targeted DNA sequencing testing could provide improved treatment options for some NSCLC patients and result in a survival benefit to NSCLC patients with no EGFR and ALK alterations on routine tests who are treated with targeted therapy.

Clinical Outcomes of EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Korea.

PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations account for approximately 4% of all EGFR mutations. Given the rarity of this mutation, its clinical outcomes are not fully established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2009 and 2017, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who showed an exon 20 insertion were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics and outcomes, including responses to chemotherapy (CTx) or targeted therapy. RESULTS: Of 3,539 NSCLC patients who harbored an activating EGFR mutation, 56 (1.6%) had an exon 20 insertion. Of the advanced NSCLC patients, 27 of 1,479 (1.8%) had an exon 20 insertion. The median overall survival was 29.4 months (95% confidence interval 9.3 to 49.6) for 27 advancedNSCLC patients. The 22 patientswho received systemic CTx achieved a 50.0% response rate and a 77.2% disease control rate, with 4.2 months of progressionfree survival. Six patients received EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Three of the four patients that had only an exon 20 insertion showed progressive disease, while one showed stable disease. The othertwo patients had an exon 20 insertion and another EGFR mutation and achieved a partial response. CONCLUSION: The incidence of an exon 20 insertion mutation is rare in Korea and occasionally accompanied by other common EGFR mutations. Although the response to systemic CTx. in these patients is comparable to that of patients with other mutations, the response rate to firstor second-generation EGFR TKIs is quite low. Therefore, the development of a more efficient agent is urgently needed.

Analysis of the benefit of sequential cranial radiotherapy in patients with EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis.

Although cranial radiotherapy is considered the standard treatment for brain metastasis (BM), EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown promising activity in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with BM. However, the efficacy of sequential cranial radiotherapy in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC who are treated with EGFR TKIs remains to be determined. Patients with NSCLC who harbored an EGFR mutation and whose BM had been treated with EGFR TKIs were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical outcomes of patients treated with EGFR TKIs alone and those treated with cranial radiotherapy followed by EGFR TKIs (additive therapy) were compared. Of the 573 patients with NSCLC with BM who harbored an EGFR mutation and had received EGFR TKIs, 121 (21.1 %) had BM at the time of initial diagnosis. Fifty-nine (49 %) patients were treated with additive therapy, whereas 62 (51 %) patients were treated only with EGFR TKIs. No significant differences were observed between the additive therapy group and the EGFR TKI alone group regarding intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) (16.6 vs 21.0 months, p = 0.492) or extracranial PFS (12.9 vs 15.0 months, p = 0.770). The 3-year survival rates were similar in both groups (71.9 vs 68.2 %, p = 0.675). Additive therapy consisting of cranial radiotherapy followed by EGFR TKI treatment did not improve OS or intracranial PFS compared with EGFR TKI treatment alone in EGFR mutant NSCLC patients with BM. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the precise benefits of sequential cranial radiotherapy in EGFR mutant NSCLC treated with EGFR TKIs.

Prolonged Maintenance of VV ECMO for 104 Days with Native Lung Recovery in Acute Respiratory Failure.

Recently, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support has been increasingly applied in acute respiratory failure. The ECMO brings some advantages for enhancing the capacity of lung regeneration. Thus, the timing of determining irreversibility of the injured lung could be delayed. In this study, we experienced a case of prolonged maintenance of veno-venous ECMO for 104 days that resulted in native lung recovery. In this case, the initial empirical treatment showed no response within 4 weeks with ECMO support but the patient did not want a lung transplantation. With prolonged maintenance of the ECMO, related ethical issues arose, such as how long should the applied ECMO be maintained. Hence, there was a discussion that was centered on the timing of determining futility and ethical issues, while applying the ECMO in acute respiratory failure.

A Korean single-center, real-world, retrospective study of first-line weekly paclitaxel in patients with metastatic angiosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Angiosarcoma is a rare subgroup of soft tissue sarcomas associated with poor prognosis, but paclitaxel has been shown to be active in pretreated metastatic disease. We investigated the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy in adult patients with metastatic angiosarcoma. METHODS: A retrospective study using the Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) cancer chemotherapy registry was performed on 21 consecutive patients with angiosarcoma who were treated with weekly paclitaxel as first-line therapy for metastatic disease between Oct. 2008 and Dec. 2014. We excluded patients who were enrolled in clinical trials to ensure the results would reflect the real-world outcomes obtained in a daily clinical setting. Endpoints included efficacy in terms of response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. RESULTS: Among 21 patients, 15 (71 %) were male and the median age was 53 years (range, 24-76). Primary sites of angiosarcoma were the visceral organs (33 %), scalp (29 %) and heart (23 %). The median number of metastatic sites was two (range, 1-5) with the lungs being the most frequently involved site. Weekly paclitaxel was generally well tolerated: the major hematologic toxicity was grade 1/2 anemia (24 %). Among non-hematologic toxicities, grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy was most commonly observed (67 %). Objective response was observed in 11 (52 %) patients (4 complete and 7 partial responses). With a median follow-up of 21 months, the estimated median PFS and OS were 5.7 months (95 % CI 5.1-6.3) and 18.6 months (95 % CI 9.9-27.3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, first-line chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel demonstrated clinically relevant efficacy and tolerability in unselected Korean patients with metastatic angiosarcoma. It is encouraging that response rate and PFS for Korean patients were similar to those reported in Western reports.