Dose selection of novel anticancer drugs: exposing the gap between selected and required doses.

Historically, dose selection of anticancer drugs has mainly been based on establishing the maximum tolerated dose in phase 1 clinical trials with a traditional 3 plus 3 design. In the era of targeted therapies and immune-modulating agents, this approach does not necessarily lead to selection of the most favourable dose. This strategy can introduce potentially avoidable toxicity or inconvenience for patients. Multiple changes in drug development could lead to more rational dose selection, such as use of better predictive preclinical models, adaptive and randomised trial design, evaluation of multiple dose levels in late-phase development, assessment of target activity and saturation, and early biomarker use for efficacy and safety evaluation. In this Review, we evaluate the rationale and validation of dose selection in each phase of drug development for anticancer drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration from Jan 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, and give recommendations for dose optimisation to improve safety and patient convenience. In our evaluation, we classified 20 (65%) of the 31 recently registered anticancer agents as potential candidates for dose optimisation, which could be achieved either by reducing the dose (n=10 [32%]) or adjusting the dosage regimen (n=10 [32%]). Dose selection seemed to be adequately justified for nine (29%) of the drugs, whereas the reviewed data were inconclusive for formulating a recommendation on dose optimisation for two (6%) of the drugs.

A phase 2 trial combining afatinib with cetuximab in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations are the third most common EGFR mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are associated with primary resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). There is evidence of activity of combining EGFR TKIs with monoclonal antibodies. This study reports on the efficacy and safety of afatinib in combination with cetuximab. METHODS: In this single-arm phase 2 trial, patients with advanced NSCLC harboring an EGFR ex20ins mutation were treated with afatinib 40 mg once daily in combination with cetuximab 500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks. The primary end point was disease control rate (DCR) at 18 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients started treatment, with a median age of 65 years (range, 40-80 years), 78% female, and 95% White. The study achieved its primary end point with a DCR of 54% at 18 weeks, an overall response rate (ORR) of 43%, and a 32% confirmed ORR. Best responses were partial (n = 16), stable (n = 16), progressive disease (n = 2), or not evaluable (n = 3). Median progression-free survival was 5.5 months (95% CI, 3.7-8.3 months) and median overall survival was 16.8 months (95% CI, 10.7-25.8 months). The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were diarrhea (70%), rash (65%), dry skin (59%), paronychia (54%), and erythema (43%). Grade 3 TRAEs were reported in 54% of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment with afatinib and cetuximab demonstrated antitumor activity with a DCR of 54% at 18 weeks and a 32% confirmed ORR. Toxicity was significant, although manageable, after dose reduction.

Blood platelet RNA profiles do not enable for nivolumab response prediction at baseline in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment approach for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), though the response rates remain low. Pre-treatment response prediction may improve patient allocation for immunotherapy. Blood platelets act as active immune-like cells, thereby constraining T-cell activity, propagating cancer metastasis, and adjusting their spliced mRNA content. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether platelet RNA profiles before start of nivolumab anti-PD1 immunotherapy may predict treatment responses. METHODS: We performed RNA-sequencing of platelet RNA samples isolated from stage III-IV NSCLC patients before treatment with nivolumab. Treatment response was scored by the RECIST-criteria. Data were analyzed using a predefined thromboSeq analysis including a particle-swarm-enhanced support vector machine (PSO/SVM) classification algorithm. RESULTS: We collected and processed a 286-samples cohort, separated into a training/evaluation and validation series and subjected those to training of the PSO/SVM-classification algorithm. We observed only low classification accuracy in the 107-samples validation series (area under the curve (AUC) training series: 0.73 (95% -CI: 0.63-0.84, n = 88 samples), AUC evaluation series: 0.64 (95% -CI: 0.51-0.76, n = 91 samples), AUC validation series: 0.58 (95% -CI: 0.45-0.70, n = 107 samples)), employing a five-RNAs biomarker panel. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that platelet RNA may have minimally discriminative capacity for anti-PD1 nivolumab response prediction, with which the current methodology is insufficient for diagnostic application.

Clinical Relevance of High Plasma Trough Levels of the Kinase Inhibitors Crizotinib, Alectinib, Osimertinib, Dabrafenib, and Trametinib in NSCLC Patients.

BACKGROUND: the study aims to evaluate whether high plasma trough levels of the kinase inhibitors (K.I.s) crizotinib, alectinib, osimertinib, dabrafenib, and trametinib were associated with a higher risk of toxicity in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with the selected K.I.s were included if at least one plasma trough level at steady state (C min,ss ) was available. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and laboratory databases. The high group for each K.I. was defined as 10% of patients with the highest first C min,ss . The remaining patients were placed in the non-high group. The frequency of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), defined as adverse events leading to dose reduction, dose interruption, or permanent discontinuation, was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 542 patients were included in the different K.I. groups. A high C min,ss of crizotinib (n = 96), alectinib (n = 105), osimertinib (n = 227), dabrafenib (n = 52), and trametinib (n = 62) correlated with a C min,ss ≥490, ≥870, ≥405, ≥150, and ≥25 ng/mL, respectively. DLTs were more common in the alectinib high group than in the alectinib non-high group (64% vs. 29%, P = 0.036). Liver toxicity was observed in 4 (36%) patients in the high group and 5 (5%) patients in the non-high group ( P = 0.007). For other K.I.s, no significant differences were observed in the frequency of DLTs between the high and non-high groups. CONCLUSIONS: For alectinib, high C min,ss was correlated with a higher risk of DLT. No differences in the frequency of DLTs were observed between the high and non-high groups for crizotinib, osimertinib, dabrafenib, and trametinib.

Feasibility of whole-genome sequencing-based tumor diagnostics in routine pathology practice.

The current increase in number and diversity of targeted anticancer agents poses challenges to the logistics and timeliness of molecular diagnostics (MolDx), resulting in underdiagnosis and treatment. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) may provide a sustainable solution for addressing current as well as future diagnostic challenges. The present study therefore aimed to prospectively assess feasibility, validity, and value of WGS in routine clinical practice. WGS was conducted independently of, and in parallel with, standard of care (SOC) diagnostics on routinely obtained tumor samples from 1,200 consecutive patients with metastatic cancer. Results from both tests were compared and discussed in a dedicated tumor board. From 1,200 patients, 1,302 samples were obtained, of which 1,216 contained tumor cells. WGS was successful in 70% (854/1,216) of samples with a median turnaround time of 11 days. Low tumor purity (<20%) was the main reason for not completing WGS. WGS identified 99.2% and SOC MolDx 99.7% of the total of 896 biomarkers found in genomic regions covered by both tests. Actionable biomarkers were found in 603/848 patients (71%). Of the 936 associated therapy options identified by WGS, 343 were identified with SOC MolDx (36.6%). Biomarker-based therapy was started in 147 patients. WGS revealed 49 not previously identified pathogenic germline variants. Fresh-frozen, instead of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded, sample logistics were easily adopted as experienced by the professionals involved. WGS for patients with metastatic cancer is well feasible in routine clinical practice, successfully yielding comprehensive genomic profiling for the vast majority of patients. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

A qualitative study on the healthcare experiences of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with an uncertain or poor cancer prognosis.

PURPOSE: Treatment advancements have improved life expectancy for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with an uncertain and/or poor cancer prognosis (UPCP) and change clinical practice. This improved survival requires a different approach and specific expertise to meet the needs of this group. The aim of this study is to explore the health care experiences of AYAs with a UPCP. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and elements of the grounded theory by Corbin and Strauss. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 46 AYAs with a UPCP. They were on average 33.4 years old (age range 23-44), and most of them were woman (63%). Additionally, five AYAs with a UPCP participated as AYA research partners in two focus groups. They were on average 31.8 years old and four of them were woman. AYAs with a UPCP reported four pillars for a satisfied healthcare experience: (1) trust, (2) tailored communication, (3) holistic empathic open attitude, and (4) care being offered (pro-)actively. They reported both optimal and suboptimal experiences about distrust based on a delay in diagnostic trajectory, lack of tailored communication and discussion of sensitive topics, preference for a holistic approach, and struggles with finding the way to get additional healthcare support. CONCLUSION: For AYAs with a UPCP, it is important that both age-specific issues and issues related to the UPCP are understood and addressed; however, this seems not yet optimally implemented in clinical practice. This emphasizes the importance of providing this patient group with tailored care incorporating both aspects. Healthcare professionals need to be supported with training and tools to understand the healthcare needs of AYAs with a UPCP. AYAs can be empowered to take more control over their own healthcare needs.

Exposure-Response Analysis of Osimertinib in EGFR Mutation Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in a Real-Life Setting.

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib, an irreversible inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important drug in the treatment of EGFR-mutation positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical trials with osimertinib could not demonstrate an exposure-efficacy relationship, while a relationship between exposure and toxicity has been found. In this study, we report the exposure-response relationships of osimertinib in a real-life setting. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed, including patients receiving 40 - 80 mg osimertinib as ≥ 2 line therapy and from whom pharmacokinetic samples were collected during routine care. Trough plasma concentrations (Cmin,pred) were estimated and used as a measure of osimertinib exposure. A previously defined exploratory pharmacokinetic threshold of 166 µg/L was taken to explore the exposure-efficacy relationship. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients and 513 osimertinib plasma concentration samples were included. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 13.3 (95% confidence interval (CI):10.3 - 19.1) months and 9.3 (95% CI: 7.2 - 11.1) months for patients with Cmin,pred < 166 µg/L and Cmin,pred ≥ 166 µg/L, respectively (p = 0.03). In the multivariate analysis, a Cmin,pred < 166 µg/L resulted in a non-statistically significant hazard ratio of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.60 - 2.01; p = 77). Presence of a EGFR driver-mutation other than the exon 19 del or L858R mutations, led to a shorter PFS with a hazard ratio of 2.89 (95% CI: 1.18 - 7.08; p = 0.02). No relationship between exposure and toxicity was observed (p = 0.91). CONCLUSION: In our real-life cohort, no exposure-response relationship was observed for osimertinib in the current dosing scheme. The feasibility of a standard lower fixed dosing of osimertinib in clinical practice should be studied prospectively.

Multicenter Comparison of Molecular Tumor Boards in The Netherlands: Definition, Composition, Methods, and Targeted Therapy Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) provide rational, genomics-driven, patient-tailored treatment recommendations. Worldwide, MTBs differ in terms of scope, composition, methods, and recommendations. This study aimed to assess differences in methods and agreement in treatment recommendations among MTBs from tertiary cancer referral centers in The Netherlands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MTBs from all tertiary cancer referral centers in The Netherlands were invited to participate. A survey assessing scope, value, logistics, composition, decision-making method, reporting, and registration of the MTBs was completed through on-site interviews with members from each MTB. Targeted therapy recommendations were compared using 10 anonymized cases. Participating MTBs were asked to provide a treatment recommendation in accordance with their own methods. Agreement was based on which molecular alteration(s) was considered actionable with the next line of targeted therapy. RESULTS: Interviews with 24 members of eight MTBs revealed that all participating MTBs focused on rare or complex mutational cancer profiles, operated independently of cancer type-specific multidisciplinary teams, and consisted of at least (thoracic and/or medical) oncologists, pathologists, and clinical scientists in molecular pathology. Differences were the types of cancer discussed and the methods used to achieve a recommendation. Nevertheless, agreement among MTB recommendations, based on identified actionable molecular alteration(s), was high for the 10 evaluated cases (86%). CONCLUSION: MTBs associated with tertiary cancer referral centers in The Netherlands are similar in setup and reach a high agreement in recommendations for rare or complex mutational cancer profiles. We propose a "Dutch MTB model" for an optimal, collaborative, and nationally aligned MTB workflow. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interpretation of genomic analyses for optimal choice of target therapy for patients with cancer is becoming increasingly complex. A molecular tumor board (MTB) supports oncologists in rationalizing therapy options. However, there is no consensus on the most optimal setup for an MTB, which can affect the quality of recommendations. This study reveals that the eight MTBs associated with tertiary cancer referral centers in The Netherlands are similar in setup and reach a high agreement in recommendations for rare or complex mutational profiles. The Dutch MTB model is based on a collaborative and nationally aligned workflow with interinstitutional collaboration and data sharing.

Treatment of oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With the development of targeted therapies, the treatment strategy of patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed tremendously. In this review, we focus on the different aspects of the treatment of oncogene-driven NSCLC. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with an EGFR or ALK alteration show a better clinical outcome with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment compared to chemotherapy.Patients with a ROS1 rearrangement or a BRAF V600E mutation show favorable clinical outcome with TKI treatment compared to chemotherapy, although randomized trials are not available.Patients on TKIs will eventually develop disease progression because of acquired resistance.The treatment with immunotherapy in EGFR and ALK-positive NSCLC patients did not improve overall survival over that of chemotherapy.Blood-based genetic analysis provides the opportunity to noninvasively screen patients for the presence of oncogenic drivers and to monitor resistance during TKI treatment. SUMMARY: Targeted molecular therapies are now standard of care for patients with oncogene-driven NSCLC with a good clinical benefit and minimal toxicity. The role of immunotherapy in patients with molecular alterations is still unclear. Blood-based genotyping has gained interest in the diagnostic and resistance monitoring setting for patients with NSCLC.

Trastuzumab and paclitaxel in patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC that express HER2 after progression on EGFR TKI treatment.

BACKGROUND: HER2 expression and amplification are observed in ~15% of tumour biopsies from patients with a sensitising EGFR mutation who develop EGFR TKI resistance. It is unknown whether HER2 targeting in this setting can result in tumour responses. METHODS: A single arm phase II study was performed to study the safety and efficacy of trastuzumab and paclitaxel treatment in patients with a sensitising EGFR mutation who show HER2 expression in a tumour biopsy (IHC ≥ 1) after progression on EGFR TKI treatment. Trastuzumab (first dose 4 mg/kg, thereafter 2 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (60 mg/m2) were dosed weekly until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end-point was tumour response rate according to RECIST v1.1. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were enrolled. Nine patients were exon 21 L858R positive and fifteen exon 19 del positive. Median HER2 IHC was 2+ (range 1-3). For 21 patients, gene copy number by in situ hybridisation could be calculated: 5 copies/nucleus (n = 9), 5-10 copies (n = 8), and >10 copies (n = 4). An objective response was observed in 11/24 (46%) patients. Highest response rates were seen for patients with 3+ HER2 IHC (12 patients, ORR 67%) or HER2 copy number ≥10 (4 patients, ORR 100%). Median tumour change in size was 42% decrease (range -100% to +53%). Median duration of response was 5.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8 to 7.3) months. Treatment toxicity was mild with four patients experiencing grade ≥3 toxicity, including fatigue, neuropathy, neutropaenia, urinary tract infection, and pneumonitis. CONCLUSIONS: Trastuzumab-paclitaxel induces objective tumour responses in 46% of EGFR TKI pretreated patients with an activating EGFR mutation and HER2 expression. The treatment was well tolerated. The relation between response rate and HER2 expression level and copy number suggests effective HER2 targeting by trastuzumab, although the combination with paclitaxel does not allow to determine the relative contribution of the individual drugs in terms of treatment efficacy.

Exploring the predictive potential of programmed death ligand 1 expression in healthy organs and lymph nodes as measured by 18F-BMS986-192 PET: pooled analysis of data from four solid tumor types.

INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can elicit anticancer immune responses, but predictive biomarkers are needed. We measured programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in organs and lymph nodes using 18F-BMS-986192 positron emission tomography (PET)-imaging and looked for correlations with response and immune-related adverse events. METHODS: Four 18F-BMS-986192 PET studies in patients with melanoma, lung, pancreatic and oral cancer, receiving ICI treatment, were combined. Imaging data (organ standardized uptake value (SUV)mean, lymph node SUVmax) and clinical data (response to treatment and incidence of immune-related adverse events) were extracted. RESULTS: Baseline PD-L1 uptake in the spleen was on average higher in non-responding patients than in responders (spleen SUVmean 16.1±4.4 vs 12.5±3.4, p=0.02). This effect was strongest in lung cancer, and not observed in oral cancer. In the oral cancer cohort, benign tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) had higher PD-L1 uptake (SUVmax 3.3 IQR 2.5-3.9) compared with non-TDLNs (SUVmax 1.8, IQR 1.4-2.8 p=0.04). Furthermore, in the same cohort non-responders showed an increase in PD-L1 uptake in benign TDLNs on-treatment with ICIs (+15%), while for responders the PD-L1 uptake decreased (-11%). PD-L1 uptake did not predict immune-related adverse events, though elevated thyroid uptake on-treatment correlated with pre-existing thyroid disease or toxicity. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 PET uptake in the spleen is a potential negative predictor of response to ICIs. On-treatment with ICIs, PD-L1 uptake in benign TDLNs increases in non-responders, while it decreases in responders, potentially indicating a mechanism for resistance to ICIs in patients with oral cancer.

Optimized whole-genome sequencing workflow for tumor diagnostics in routine pathology practice.

Two decades after the genomics revolution, oncology is rapidly transforming into a genome-driven discipline, yet routine cancer diagnostics is still mainly microscopy based, except for tumor type-specific predictive molecular tests. Pathology laboratories struggle to quickly validate and adopt biomarkers identified by genomics studies of new targeted therapies. Consequently, clinical implementation of newly approved biomarkers suffers substantial delays, leading to unequal patient access to these therapies. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can successfully address these challenges by providing a stable molecular diagnostic platform that allows detection of a multitude of genomic alterations in a single cost-efficient assay and facilitating rapid implementation, as well as by the development of new genomic biomarkers. Recently, the Whole-genome sequencing Implementation in standard Diagnostics for Every cancer patient (WIDE) study demonstrated that WGS is a feasible and clinically valid technique in routine clinical practice with a turnaround time of 11 workdays. As a result, WGS was successfully implemented at the Netherlands Cancer Institute as part of routine diagnostics in January 2021. The success of implementing WGS has relied on adhering to a comprehensive protocol including recording patient information, sample collection, shipment and storage logistics, sequencing data interpretation and reporting, integration into clinical decision-making and data usage. This protocol describes the use of fresh-frozen samples that are necessary for WGS but can be challenging to implement in pathology laboratories accustomed to using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. In addition, the protocol outlines key considerations to guide uptake of WGS in routine clinical care in hospitals worldwide.

Early response evaluation of PD-1 blockade in NSCLC patients through FDG-PET-CT and T cell profiling of tumor-draining lymph nodes.

Better biomarkers for programmed death - (ligand) 1 (PD-(L)1) checkpoint blockade in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are needed. We explored the predictive value of early response evaluation using Fluor-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and pre- and on-treatment flowcytometric T-cell profiling in peripheral blood and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN). The on-treatment evaluation was performed 7-14 days after the start of PD-1 blockade in NSCLC patients. These data were related to (pathological) tumor response, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). We found that increases in total lesion glycolysis (TLG) had a strong reverse correlation with OS (r = -0.93, p = 0.022). Additionally, responders showed decreased progressors and increased Treg frequencies on-treatment. Frequencies of detectable PD-1-expressing CD8+ T cells decreased in responders but remained stable in progressors. This was especially found in the TDLN. Changes in activated Treg rates in TDLN were strongly but, due to low numbers of data points, non-significantly correlated with ΔTLG and reversely correlated with OS.

Chemotherapy for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC after progression on EGFR-TKI's: Exploration of efficacy of unselected treatment in a multicenter cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung (NSCLC) chemotherapy remains standard of care after progression on EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). With the development of anti-angiogenic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors the landscape of systemic regimens has changed significantly. This cohort study aims to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens after progression on EGFR-TKI in a European population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All consecutive patients treated with chemotherapy after progression on EGFR-TKI for EGFR-mutated NSCLC, were identified in two tertiary centers in the Netherlands. Data on best response, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted from medical records. RESULTS: In total, 171 lines of chemotherapy were identified: platinum/pemetrexed (PP, n = 95), carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab/atezolizumab (CPBA, n = 32), paclitaxel/bevacizumab (PB, n = 36) and carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab (CPB, n = 8). Of the 171 lines, 106 were given as first-line after EGFR-TKI. Median PFS did not differ significantly between the first-line regimens (p = 0.50), with the highest PFS in PP (5.2 months [95% CI 4.5-5.9]) and CPBA (5.9 months [95% CI 3.8-80]). The majority of the PB group (n = 32) received this regimen in a second- or later line with a median PFS of 4.9 months (95% CI 3.3-6.6). First-line regimens had a median OS of 15.3 months (95% CI 11.6-18.9) with no significant difference between regimens (p = 0.85). CONCLUSION: After progression on EGFR-TKI, patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC show substantial benefit on different chemotherapy regimens. In particular, favorable outcomes were seen in patients treated with PP and CPBA as first-line chemotherapy, and PB in further lines of chemotherapy.

Tobacco Smoking-Related Mutational Signatures in Classifying Smoking-Associated and Nonsmoking-Associated NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-reported smoking history is frequently used as a stratification factor in NSCLC-directed clinical research. Nevertheless, this classification does not fully reflect the mutational processes in a tumor. Next-generation sequencing can identify mutational signatures associated with tobacco smoking, such as single-base signature 4 and indel-based signature 3. This provides an opportunity to redefine the classification of smoking- and nonsmoking-associated NSCLC on the basis of individual genomic tumor characteristics and could contribute to reducing the lung cancer stigma. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing data and clinical records were obtained from three prospective cohorts of metastatic NSCLC (N = 316). Relative contributions and absolute counts of single-base signature 4 and indel-based signature 3 were combined with relative contributions of age-related signatures to divide the cohort into smoking-associated ("smoking high") and nonsmoking-associated ("smoking low") clusters. RESULTS: The smoking high (n = 169) and smoking low (n = 147) clusters differed considerably in tumor mutational burden, signature contribution, and mutational landscape. This signature-based classification overlapped considerably with smoking history. Yet, 26% of patients with an active smoking history were included in the smoking low cluster, of which 52% harbored an EGFR/ALK/RET/ROS1 alteration, and 4% of patients without smoking history were included in the smoking high cluster. These discordant samples had similar genomic contexts to the rest of their respective cluster. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial subset of metastatic NSCLC is differently classified into smoking- and nonsmoking-associated tumors on the basis of smoking-related mutational signatures than on the basis of smoking history. This signature-based classification more accurately classifies patients on the basis of genome-wide context and should therefore be considered as a stratification factor in clinical research.

A comprehensive overview of the heterogeneity of EGFR exon 20 variants in NSCLC and (pre)clinical activity to currently available treatments.

Activating EGFR mutations are commonly observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). About 4-10 % of all activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are heterogenous in-frame deletion and/or insertion mutations clustering within exon 20 (EGFRex20+). NSCLC patients with EGFRex20+ mutations are treated as a single disease entity, irrespective of the type and location of the mutation. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the literature reporting both in vitro and clinical drug sensitivity across different EGFRex20+ mutations. The activating A763_Y764insFQEA mutation has a better tumor response in comparison with mutations in the near- and far regions directly following the C-helix and should therefore be treated differently. For other EGFRex20+ mutations marked differences in treatment responses have been reported indicating the need for a classification beyond the exon-based classification. A further classification can be achieved using a structure-function modeling approach and experimental data using patient-derived cell lines. The detailed overview of TKI responses for each EGFRex20+ mutation can assist treating physicians to select the most optimal drug for individual NSCLC patients.

89Zr-Immuno-PET with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Measuring Target Engagement in Healthy Organs.

INTRODUCTION: 89Zr-immuno-PET (positron emission tomography with zirconium-89-labeled monoclonal antibodies ([89Zr]Zr-mAbs)) can be used to study the biodistribution of mAbs targeting the immune system. The measured uptake consists of target-specific and non-specific components, and it can be influenced by plasma availability of the tracer. To find evidence for target-specific uptake, i.e., target engagement, we studied five immune-checkpoint-targeting [89Zr]Zr-mAbs to (1) compare the uptake with previously reported baseline values for non-specific organ uptake (ns-baseline) and (2) look for saturation effects of increasing mass doses. METHOD: 89Zr-immuno-PET data from five [89Zr]Zr-mAbs, i.e., nivolumab and pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1), durvalumab (anti-PD-L1), BI 754,111 (anti-LAG-3), and ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4), were analysed. For each mAb, 2-3 different mass doses were evaluated. PET scans and blood samples from at least two time points 24 h post injection were available. In 35 patients, brain, kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, and bone marrow were delineated. Patlak analysis was used to account for differences in plasma activity concentration and to quantify irreversible uptake (Ki). To identify target engagement, Ki values were compared to ns-baseline Ki values previously reported, and the effect of increasing mass doses on Ki was investigated. RESULTS: All mAbs, except ipilimumab, showed Ki values in spleen above the ns-baseline for the lowest administered mass dose, in addition to decreasing Ki values with higher mass doses, both indicative of target engagement. For bone marrow, no ns-baseline was established previously, but a similar pattern was observed. For kidneys, most mAbs showed Ki values within the ns-baseline for both low and high mass doses. However, with high mass doses, some saturation effects were seen, suggestive of a lower ns-baseline value. Ki values were near zero in brain tissue for all mass doses of all mAbs. CONCLUSION: Using Patlak analysis and the established ns-baseline values, evidence for target engagement in (lymphoid) organs for several immune checkpoint inhibitors could be demonstrated. A decrease in the Ki values with increasing mass doses supports the applicability of Patlak analysis for the assessment of target engagement for PET ligands with irreversible uptake behavior.

Therapeutic drug monitoring guided dosing versus standard dosing of alectinib in advanced ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer patients: Study protocol for an international, multicenter phase IV randomized controlled trial (ADAPT ALEC).

Background: Alectinib is first-line therapy in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion. A shorter median progression-free survival (mPFS) was observed when alectinib minimum plasma concentrations during steady state (Cmin,SS) were below 435 ng/mL. This may suggest that patients should have an alectinib Cmin,SS ≥ 435 ng/mL for a more favorable outcome. This potential target could be attained by using therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), i.e. adjusting the dose based on measured plasma trough concentrations. Hypothetically, this will increase mPFS, but this has not yet been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Therefore, the ADAPT ALEC trial is designed, with the primary objective to prolong mPFS in NSCLC patients treated with alectinib by using TDM. Methods: ADAPT ALEC is a multicenter, phase IV RCT, in which patients aged ≥ 18 years with advanced ALK positive (+) NSCLC eligible for alectinib in daily care are enrolled. Participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) into intervention arm A (TDM) or B (control), stratified by brain metastases and prior ALK treatments. Starting dose in both arms is the approved flat fixed dose of alectinib 600 mg taken twice daily with food. In case of alectinib Cmin,SS < 435 ng/mL, arm A will receive increased doses of alectinib till Cmin,SS ≥ 435 ng/mL when considered tolerable. The primary outcome is mPFS, where progressive disease is defined according to RECIST v1.1 or all-cause death and assessed by CT-scans and MRI brain. Secondary endpoints are feasibility and tolerability of TDM, patient and physician adherence, overall response rate, median overall survival, intracranial PFS, quality of life, toxicity, alectinib-M4 concentrations and cost-effectiveness of TDM. Exploratory endpoints are circulating tumor DNA and body composition. Discussion: The ADAPT ALEC will show whether treatment outcomes of patients with advanced ALK+ NSCLC improve when using TDM-guided dosing of alectinib instead of fixed dosing. The results will provide high quality evidence for deciding whether TDM should be implemented as standard of care and this will have important consequences for the prescribing of alectinib. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05525338.

Representativeness of Phase III Trial for Osimertinib in Pretreated Advanced EGFR-Mutated Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients and Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Overall survival (OS) data of osimertinib in pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in real-world practice is limited, and treatment benefits for patients not represented in the pivotal trials (ineligible) are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the representativeness of the AURA3 trial for NSCLC patients treated with osimertinib in a real-world setting and to determine outcomes of patients who were represented in the AURA3 trial (eligible) and those who were ineligible. METHODS: Advanced NSCLC patients receiving post first-line osimertinib were included in this retrospective study and were divided into two groups based on eligibility criteria of the AURA3 trial. Progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox models were used to estimate the association of eligibility criteria with OS. RESULTS: 328 patients were included; 126 (38%) patients were eligible and 202 (62%) patients were ineligible. The most common ineligibility reasons were the number of earlier treatment lines and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) > 1. PFS of eligible and ineligible patients was not statistically different (8.0 vs. 5.8 months, p = 0.062). Eligible patients had a longer OS (24.0 vs. 15.4 months, p = 0.001) compared to ineligible patients. ECOG PS was the best predictor for OS. An ECOG PS of 1 was already associated with poorer survival compared to an ECOG PS of 0 (hazard ratio 1.54; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The majority of the study population was not represented in the AURA3 trial. Survival outcomes of eligible patients are in concordance with the AURA3 trial, while OS of ineligible patients was significantly shorter compared to eligible patients.