Canadian consensus on TRK-inhibitor therapy for NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma.

Malignant sarcomas are rare accounting for <1% of all adult solid malignancies and approximately 11% to 13% of all pediatric malignancies. TRK-inhibitors have demonstrated robust and long-lasting responses in patients with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors, including sarcoma. Access to these agents in many jurisdictions such as Canada remains limited. We undertook a modified Delphi consensus to articulate and convey the clinical importance of these agents for the Canadian sarcoma community. A systematic search of published and presented literature was conducted to identify clinical trials reporting outcomes on the use of TRK-inhibitors in relapsed/refractory NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma. Three main consensus questions were identified: (a) is there currently an unmet clinical need for systemic therapy options in relapsed/refractory sarcoma? (b) do TRK-inhibitors confer a clinical benefit to patients with NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma? (c) do phase I/II basket trials provide sufficient evidence to justify funding of TRK-inhibitors in NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma? Response rates to the first and second surveys were 57% (n = 30) and 42% (n = 22), respectively. There was strong agreement among the Canadian sarcoma community that there was unmet clinical need for effective systemic therapy options in relapsed/refractory sarcoma, that TRK-inhibitors are a safe and effective treatment option for patients with NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma, and that available phase I/II basket trials provide sufficient evidence to support funding of these agents in relapsed/refractory NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma. TRK-inhibitors are a safe and effective systemic therapy option for patients with relapsed/refractory NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma.

The Rapidly Evolving Landscape of First-Line Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Urothelial Cancer: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) historically is treated with first-line platinum-based combination chemotherapy, preferably cisplatin plus gemcitabine whenever possible. In recent years, multiple classes of targeted therapy have demonstrated benefit, with some receiving approval in mUC. This review will summarize phase III efficacy and safety data for targeted agents, principally immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as either first-line or first-line switch-maintenance therapy for mUC and interpret these findings in the context of the current treatment landscape. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Published and presented phase III data on targeted therapy for the first-line or first-line switch-maintenance treatment of mUC were identified using the key search terms "targeted therapy" AND "urothelial carcinoma" AND "advanced" OR respective aliases according to the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). RESULTS: Of the six eligible phase III targeted therapy trials, two assessing ICIs met their primary endpoints in platinum-eligible patients. First-line ICI plus chemotherapy combinations have not improved overall survival (OS), although final OS results of the IMVigor 130 trial are pending. Switch-maintenance using an ICI in patients achieving at least stable disease following platinum-based chemotherapy statistically significantly improved OS (21.4 vs. 14.3 months, hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.86; p = .001). Current sequencing options for mUC include first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with a switch to ICI either immediately or upon disease progression. CONCLUSION: Recent targeted therapy trials have expanded ICI sequencing options for mUC. The treatment landscape is likely to evolve rapidly, with results from multiple phase III trials expected in the next 5 years. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Multiple classes of targeted agents are approved for use in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Six phase III trials have recently provided insight on the benefit of these agents in the first-line setting. In platinum-eligible patients, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy failed to demonstrate improved survival, although ICI monotherapy as switch-maintenance significantly improved overall survival in patients with mUC who had achieved at least stable disease following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In patients ineligible for any chemotherapy, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, or pembrolizumab in combination with enfortumab vedotin may be options.

Amplifying Outcomes: Checkpoint Inhibitor Combinations in First-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, resulting in approximately 1.8 million deaths worldwide. Immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors has become standard of care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and there is increasing interest in further improving outcomes through combination with other therapeutics. This systematic review evaluates emerging phase III data on the efficacy and safety of checkpoint inhibitor combinations as first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Published and presented literature was searched using the key search terms "non-small cell lung cancer" AND "checkpoint-inhibitors" (OR respective aliases) AND phase III trials. Seven randomized phase III clinical trials reporting outcomes on checkpoint inhibitor combinations in first-line advanced NSCLC were identified. RESULTS: Four first-line trials reported outcomes for checkpoint inhibitor combinations in nonsquamous NSCLC. Pembrolizumab-chemotherapy, atezolizumab-chemotherapy, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab-chemotherapy showed significantly improved overall survival compared with controls in patients with advanced nonsquamous epidermal growth factor receptor-negative (EGFR-)/ anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK)- NSCLC. Two trials reported outcomes for squamous NSCLC, with pembrolizumab-chemotherapy reporting significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy. The combination of nivolumab-ipilimumab in all-comer histology failed to improve OS compared with histology appropriate chemotherapy in patients regardless of their tumor mutational burden status. Based on improved survival and safety, either pembrolizumab monotherapy or pembrolizumab-chemotherapy administered based on PD-L1 status and histology is a preferred treatment option. Outcomes for atezolizumab-bevacizumab-chemotherapy in EGFR+/ALK+ patients are promising and require further exploration. CONCLUSION: First-line checkpoint inhibitors added to standard therapies improve overall survival for nonsquamous EGFR-/ALK- and squamous advanced NSCLC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors are now standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and emerging data show that combining these agents with established chemotherapy further improves outcomes. The phase III KEYNOTE-189 and IMPower-130 trials showed significantly improved survival using this strategy for nonsquamous NSCLC, and the phase III KEYNOTE-407 trial showed similar results in squamous disease. Checkpoint inhibitor combinations are therefore an important new treatment option for first-line NSCLC. Programmed death ligand-1 expression may inform the use of checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy, and overall tumor mutation burden is also an emerging biomarker for this new treatment strategy.

Prolonging Survival: The Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents approximately 15% of lung cancers, and approximately 70% are diagnosed as extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Although ES-SCLC is highly responsive to chemotherapy, patients typically progress rapidly, and there is an urgent need for new therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently been investigated in SCLC, and this review provides guidance on the use of these agents in ES-SCLC based on phase III evidence. METHODS: Published and presented literature on phase III data addressing use of ICIs in ES-SCLC was identified using the key search terms "small cell lung cancer" AND "checkpoint inhibitors" (OR respective aliases). Directed searches of eligible studies were periodically performed to ensure capture of the most recent data. RESULTS: Six phase III trials were identified, with four assessing the benefits of ICIs plus chemotherapy first-line, one evaluating ICIs as first-line therapy maintenance, and one assessing ICI monotherapy after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy. The addition of ipilimumab or tremelimumab to first-line treatment or as first-line maintenance did not improve survival. Two out of three studies combining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy demonstrated significant long-lasting survival benefits and improved quality of life with no unexpected safety concerns. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as first-line maintenance or in later lines of therapy did not improve survival. Biomarker research is ongoing as well as research into the role of ICIs in combination with radiation therapy in limited-stage SCLC. CONCLUSION: The addition of atezolizumab or durvalumab to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for ES-SCLC prolongs survival and improves quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Platinum-based chemotherapy has been standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) for more than a decade. Six recent phase III trials investigating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have clarified the role of these agents in this setting. Although ICIs were assessed first-line, as first-line maintenance, and in later lines of therapy, the additions of atezolizumab or durvalumab to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were the only interventions that significantly improved overall survival and increased quality of life. These combinations should therefore be considered standard therapy for first-line ES-SCLC. Biomarker research and investigations into the role of ICIs for limited-stage disease are ongoing.

Enhancing Endocrine Therapy Combination Strategies for the Treatment of Postmenopausal HR+/HER2- Advanced Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, with approximately two-thirds having hormone receptor-positive (HR+) tumors. New endocrine therapy (ET) strategies include combining ET agents as well as adding inhibitors targeting growth factors, angiogenesis, the mechanistic target of rapamycin, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), or cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 to ET. Level 1 evidence supports use of fulvestrant plus anastrozole or palbociclib plus letrozole as first-line therapy for HR+/HER- advanced BC with special consideration for the former in ET-naïve patients, as well as everolimus plus exemestane or palbociclib plus fulvestrant as second-line therapy with special consideration in select first-line patients. Although the safety profiles of these combinations are generally predictable and manageable, both everolimus and palbociclib are associated with an increased risk of potentially serious or early-onset toxicities requiring individualized a priori adverse event risk stratification, earlier and more rigorous agent-specific monitoring, and patient education. Although each of these combinations improves progression-free survival, none with the exception of anastrazole plus fulvestrant have demonstrated improved overall survival. PI3K catalytic-α mutations assessed from circulating tumor DNA represent the first potentially viable serum biomarker for the selection of ET combinations, and new data demonstrate the feasibility of this minimally invasive technique as an alternative to traditional tissue analysis. Therapeutic ratios of select ET combinations support their use in first- and second-line settings, but optimal sequencing has yet to be determined. THE ONCOLOGIST: 2017;22:12-24 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Emerging data show that new endocrine therapy (ET) combinations can improve progression-free and overall survival outcomes in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER-) advanced breast cancer. Level 1 evidence supports consideration of dual ET regimens, particularly in ET-naïve patients, or palbociclib plus letrozole as first-line therapy, as well as the addition of mTOR or CDK4/6 inhibitors to established ET in the second-line setting and in select first-line patients. Some combinations are associated with increased risk of class-specific toxicities that will require individualized risk stratification, earlier and more rigorous agent-specific monitoring, and patient education. Recent data on a noninvasive biomarker assay that predicts response to a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor demonstrates the feasibility of this minimally invasive technique as an alternative to traditional tissue analysis.

HER story: the next chapter in HER-2-directed therapy for advanced breast cancer.

Untreated human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2)-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) is an aggressive disease, associated with a poor prognosis and short overall survival. HER-2-directed therapy prolongs both time to disease progression and overall survival when combined with chemotherapy and has become the standard of care for those with HER-2-positive breast cancer in the early and advanced settings. Despite the remarkable therapeutic impact HER-2-directed therapy has had on disease outcomes, some patients with HER-2-positive disease will have primary resistant disease and others will respond initially but will eventually have progression, underscoring the need for other novel therapeutic options. This article reviews recent phase III trial data and discusses a practical approach to sequencing of HER-2-directed therapy in patients with HER-2-positive ABC. The significant cumulative survival gains seen in these trials are slowly reshaping the landscape of HER-2-positive ABC outcomes.

The evolution of immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma - A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Since approval of sorafenib in 2008, systemic therapy has been established as the main treatment option for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) have been extensively tested in this setting. Multiple ICI combination regimens have recently received regulatory approval and new data continues to emerge. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most up-to-date evidence on ICI combinations in advanced HCC. METHODS: A search of published and presented literature was conducted to identify phase III trials of ICI combinations in advanced HCC patients. Supplemental bibliographic search of review articles and meta-analyses was also conducted. Efficacy and safety data was summarized in text, tables, and plots. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION: The literature search identified a total of six phase III trials assessing ICI combinations in advanced HCC. Two trials compared ICI plus anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody combinations to sorafenib, three trials compared ICI plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combinations to TKIs alone, and one trial compared a dual ICI regimen to sorafenib. Statistically significant survival benefits were seen with atezolizumab-bevacizumab and sintilimab-bevacizumab biosimilar as well as durvalumab-tremelimumab and camrelizumab-rivoceranib combinations. ICI combination regimens have also shown improvements in response rates and progression-free survival relative to the previous standard of care, sorafenib, and generally presented predictable and manageable safety profiles. CONCLUSION: ICI combinations represent the new standard of care for advanced HCC. Ongoing randomized trials and real-world evidence will further clarify the role of these combinations in this rapidly evolving field.

A rapidly evolving landscape: immune checkpoint inhibitors in pretreated metastatic endometrial cancer.

Background and objectives: Endometrial cancer is a common malignancy and recurrences can be fatal. Although platinum-pretreated endometrial tumors are commonly treated with anthracyclines and taxanes, there is no current standard of care. Both immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been extensively assessed in this setting, including tumors selected for DNA mismatch repair (MMR)/microsatellite instability (MSI) and programmed death-ligand 1 expression status. This review will provide evidence-based guidance on use of ICIs alone or in combination with TKIs in patients with pretreated advanced, persistent, or recurrent metastatic endometrial cancer. Data sources and methods: Randomized phase II-III trials in unselected populations pretreated, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial cancer and phase I-II trials in biomarker selected populations were identified from PubMed as well as conference proceedings using the key search terms 'immune checkpoint inhibitors', 'endometrial cancer', and 'advanced'. Results: A total of nine eligible studies were identified assessing ICI monotherapy for biomarker-selected or ICI plus TKI combinations and a dual ICI regimen for biomarker-unselected patients with pretreated recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. In MMR/MSI-selected tumors, five phase I/II studies evaluated ICI monotherapy indicating benefit in these patients. Only the phase III KEYNOTE-775 trial reported a statistically significant overall survival improvement for the combination of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib compared with docetaxel or paclitaxel regardless of MMR/MSI status. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib is indicated for patients with unselected pretreated metastatic endometrial cancer and pembrolizumab monotherapy is a preferred option for patients with MMRd/MSI-H tumors.

Evolving landscape of first-line combination therapy in advanced renal cancer: a systematic review.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common malignancy with approximately 30% of cases diagnosed at the advanced or metastatic stage. While single-agent vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy has been a mainstay of treatment, data from multiple phase III trials assessing first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations have demonstrated a significant survival benefit. Methods: A systematic search of the published and presented literature was performed to identify phase III trials assessing ICI combination regimens in RCC using search terms 'immune checkpoint inhibitors' AND 'renal cell carcinoma,' AND 'advanced'. Results: Six phase III trials showed significant benefits for ICI combinations compared with sunitinib. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab significantly improved overall survival [OS; median, 47.0 versus 26.6 months, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58-0.81, p < 0.0001) and progression-free survival (PFS; median 11.6 versus 8.3 months, HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.61-0.87, p = 0.0004) in International Metastatic renal cell carcinoma Database Consortium intermediate and poor-risk patients. OS was also significantly improved for ICI plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor combinations regardless of risk, including pembrolizumab plus either axitinib (HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.60-0.88, p < 0.001) or lenvatinib (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49-0.88, p = 0.005) and nivolumab plus cabozantinib (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.50-0.87, p = 0.003). No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: Phase III first-line trials of ICI combinations showed survival benefits compared with a control arm of sunitinib. Global access to these combinations should be made available to patients with advanced RCC.

Correction: Karrow et al. Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Potential Impact on Fetal and Neonatal Development. Vaccines 2021, 9, 1351.

In the original publication [...].

In the end what matters most? A review of clinical endpoints in advanced breast cancer.

Many agents are being studied for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), yet few studies have demonstrated longer overall survival (OS), the primary measure of clinical benefit in MBC. This paper examines the key endpoints in clinical trials and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of drugs for MBC. PubMed was searched (1980 to October 2009) for reports of phase III trials investigating chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy agents in MBC. FDA approval histories (1996-2009) for cytotoxic and biological agents indicated for MBC were reviewed. Of the 73 phase III MBC trials reviewed, a strikingly small proportion of trials demonstrated a gain in OS duration (12%, n = 9). OS gains were less frequently noted in first-line trials (8%) than in trials of second-line plus other lines of therapy (22%). Few trials were designed with the capacity to detect OS effects. Among 37 phase III trials conducted in the last 15 years, only three systemic therapies were approved for first-line use and nine were approved for use as second-line or other lines of therapy. Of these, only four were supported by results showing longer survival times. There is substantial discordance among the design and conduct of clinical trials, FDA drug approval, and the current view of OS as the ultimate measure of clinical benefit. There is an urgent need to reassess standards for clinical benefit in MBC and to establish guidelines for study design and conduct and drug approval. In the end, what matters most is ensuring rapid access to safe and effective oncology treatments.

Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Potential Impact on Fetal and Neonatal Development.

Vaccines have been developed at "warp speed" to combat the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Although they are considered the best approach for preventing mortality, when assessing the safety of these vaccines, pregnant women have not been included in clinical trials. Thus, vaccine safety for this demographic, as well as for the developing fetus and neonate, remains to be determined. A global effort has been underway to encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated despite the uncertain risk posed to them and their offspring. Given this, post-hoc data collection, potentially for years, will be required to determine the outcomes of COVID-19 and vaccination on the next generation. Most COVID-19 vaccine reactions include injection site erythema, pain, swelling, fatigue, headache, fever and lymphadenopathy, which may be sufficient to affect fetal/neonatal development. In this review, we have explored components of the first-generation viral vector and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that are believed to contribute to adverse reactions and which may negatively impact fetal and neonatal development. We have followed this with a discussion of the potential for using an ovine model to explore the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination during the prenatal and neonatal periods.

The dawn of a new era, adjuvant EGFR inhibition in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is standard of care for patients with resected stage IIA/B or IIIA NSCLC. Overall survival is suboptimal due to the high metastatic potential of early-stage NSCLC and there is substantial clinical need for additional efficacious adjuvant treatment options. METHODS: PubMed (all time to 4 February 2021) and related conference databases were searched using the key search terms 'NSCLC' AND 'Adjuvant' AND 'EGFR inhibitor' OR respective aliases. RESULTS: The literature search identified five adjuvant phase III trials of EGFR inhibitors in early NSCLC. The earlier BR19 and RADIANT trials failed to demonstrate statistically significant improvements in either OS or DFS for gefitinib and erlotinib, respectively, compared with placebo in patients with EGFR mutation-unselected NSCLC. Three subsequent phase III trials, ADAURA, CTONG1104, and IMPACT, were conducted in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. IMPACT showed no statistically significant DFS benefit for adjuvant gefitinib, and although CTONG1104 did report improved DFS for gefitinib (HR = 0.56, p = 0.001), this benefit was not enduring, resulting in comparable 5-year DFS rates. Statistically significant and clinically meaningful DFS benefits were observed in ADAURA for osimertinib compared with placebo in patients with stage IB-IIIA and II-IIIA disease (7th Edition Staging), and these benefits, coupled with a meaningful improvement in 2-year CNS DFS and favorable HRQoL, make osimertinib an important new treatment option for the adjuvant treatment of EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R-mutated stage II-IIIA NSCLC (UICC/AJCC 8th Edition Staging), with final mature OS data eagerly awaited. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant osimertinib used alone or following platinum-based chemotherapy is now recommended in patients with stage II-IIIA EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Prevention of diarrhoea in children with HIV infection or exposure to maternal HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and children worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a condition that similarly disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries; of the nearly 2.1 million children under age 15 years living with HIV/AIDS, the large majority reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Infants and children with HIV infection have more frequent and more severe diarrhoea than children without HIV. Interventions including vitamin A, zinc and cotrimoxazole may contribute substantially to preventing diarrhoea in children with HIV infection or exposure to HIV. OBJECTIVES: We perform a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and nonrandomised studies that examine the effectiveness of vitamin A, zinc and cotrimoxazole on mortality and morbidity from diarrhoea in HIV-infected and -exposed infants and children. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases including Pubmed, Central and EMBASE were searched without limits to language from 1980 to April 2010. Conference database searches were performed, experts were contacted and bibliographies were handsearched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomised studies (NRSs) that examined the effectiveness of the three interventions were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed citations for eligibility and double-extracted included studies. Assessment of bias of individual studies was performed independently by both reviewers. Only two summary estimates were performed due to heterogeneity in study design and interventions. MAIN RESULTS: Four RCTs were identified for vitamin A. One RCT was identified for zinc. One RCT and two NRSs were identified for cotrimoxazole. Vitamin A reduced mortality overall in children with HIV infection (four studies). A pooled estimate of three studies for reduction in mortality from vitamin A compared to placebo had a relative risk (DerSimonian and Laird method, random effects) of 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31 to 0.79) in 267 patients. Diarrheoa-specific mortality did not reach statistical significance and diarrhoeal morbidity outcomes were variable in three trials. Zinc supplementation reduced the number of physician visits for watery diarrhoea in one trial. Cotrimoxazole reduced mortality and hospitalisations compared to placebo in one RCT, although diarrhoea-specific morbidities were not significant. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin A shows benefits in reduction of mortality in HIV-infected children. The effect of vitamin A on children with HIV exposure is not clear and needs further review. Zinc and combination vitamin A, zinc and micronutrient supplementation did not show an effect compared to vitamin A alone in children with HIV infection. Cotrimoxazole reduced mortality and some morbidity in children with HIV infection. Further research may clarify the effects of these interventions on morbidity from diarrhoea and in the population of children with HIV exposure.

Positive progress: current and evolving role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents an aggressive breast cancer subtype with historically poor overall outcomes, due primarily to a lack of effective targeted agents. Chemotherapy has been the primary treatment approach, although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are currently being investigated to improve patient outcomes. This review examines the clinical implications of current evidence on the use of ICIs for the treatment of metastatic TNBC. METHODS: Our systematic search identified two phase III and five phase I/II trials reporting on the efficacy of ICIs used as monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic TNBC. RESULTS: The phase III IMpassion 130 trial showed a significant improvement in median progression-free survival in the intent-to-treat (net 1.7 months, p = 0.002) and PD-L1-positive populations (net 2.5 months, p < 0.001) for the addition of first-line atezolizumab versus placebo to nab-paclitaxel in metastatic TNBC. Although median overall survival was not significantly improved in patients receiving atezolizumab overall [net 2.3 months, hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-1.02, p = 0.078], numerical improvements in the PD-L1-positive population were compelling (net 7.0 months, HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54-0.93). Toxicity profiles were as expected, and no new safety signals were observed. Pembrolizumab monotherapy did not significantly improve overall survival in similar patients that had received prior treatment in KEYNOTE-119. CONCLUSIONS: Atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel represents a potential new first-line standard of care for patients with metastatic PD-L1-positive TNBC. Other ICIs used as monotherapy, or combined with chemotherapy for advanced TNBC, as well as their use for earlier stage disease, are areas of ongoing investigation.

Management algorithms for metastatic prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer poses a significant lifetime risk to Canadian men. Treatment for metastatic prostatic cancer (mPCa) is an area of ongoing research with a lack of up-to-date clinical guidance. The multidisciplinary Canadian Genitourinary Research Consortium (GURC) determined that additional guidance focusing on management of mPCa was warranted. METHODS: The most up-to-date guidelines, consensus statements, and emerging phase 3 trials were identified and used to inform development of algorithms by a multidisciplinary genitourinary oncology panel outlining recommendations for the management of mPCa. RESULTS: A single pan-Canadian guideline and five national and international guidelines or consensus statements published since 2015 were identified, along with two new phase 3 trials and one additional randomized comparison. Iterative GURC discussions led to the development of two mPCa algorithms: the first addressing management of newly diagnosed metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients and the second addressing treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). For newly diagnosed mCSPC patients with high-volume/high-risk disease, either docetaxel or abiraterone acetate and prednisone (AAP) added to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is recommended. The addition of radiotherapy to ADT is suggested for those with low-volume disease and/or AAP to ADT for low-volume or low-risk disease. For first-line mCRPC, androgen receptor-axis-targeted (ARAT) therapy is recommended for most patients, while sequencing with docetaxel, radium-223, ARAT therapy, and/or cabazitaxel is recommended for later lines of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Two treatment algorithms were developed for the management of mPC and can be used by multidisciplinary specialist teams to guide treatment.

Immune checkpoint-inhibitors and chemoradiation in stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer resulted in an estimated 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2018 and approximately 20% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed with stage III unresectable disease. Phase III data from the PACIFIC trial show significantly improved progression-free survival for the checkpoint-inhibitor durvalumab given as consolidation following definitive chemoradiotherapy (cCRT). Overall survival results from this study have now been reported, along with outcomes from other phase II trials. A thorough review of the efficacy and safety of checkpoint-inhibitors used in conjunction with cCRT for stage III unresectable NSCLC is needed. Published and presented literature on phase II and III data was identified using the key search terms "non-small cell lung cancer" AND "checkpoint-inhibitors" (OR respective aliases). One randomized phase III clinical trial and three phase II trials reporting outcomes of checkpoint-inhibitors in conjunction with cCRT for stage III unresectable NSCLC were identified. PACIFIC reported significantly improved overall survival for consolidation durvalumab following cCRT compared with placebo. Although discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) was higher with durvalumab, rates of grade 3/4 pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis were low and comparable between arms. Results from phase II trials also show promising activity for other checkpoint-inhibitors and alternative sequencing strategies, although these need to be confirmed in a randomized context. Preliminary data suggest differences in the safety profiles between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors. Currently, the role of PD-L1 expression levels for patient selection in this setting remains unclear, and durvalumab should be administered on an individual basis in patients with known driver mutations. Consolidation durvalumab following cCRT significantly improves overall survival with an acceptable safety profile in patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC, now representing a new standard of care.

Extended thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) following abdominopelvic cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Certain abdominopelvic cancer surgeries are associated with a six to 14-fold increased risk of DVT versus surgeries for benign disease, and extended thromboprophylaxis using perioperative LMWHs may further reduce VTE rates over standard duration administration. This review assesses the value of extended low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) thromboprophylaxis as a recommended strategy after abdominopelvic cancer surgery. DATA SOURCES: Six eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), seven meta-analyses (MAs), and five non-randomized cohort studies were identified evaluating extended versus standard thromboprophylaxis following abdominopelvic cancer surgery. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence showed significantly reduced rates of VTE for extended versus standard LMWH thromboprophylaxis following abdominopelvic cancer surgery, with some studies showing trends toward reduced rates of symptomatic VTE events. Many of these studies showed significantly reduced rates of proximal DVT and some showed trends toward reduced PE, suggesting potentially important clinical benefits.

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a Canadian evidence-based perspective.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition characterized by a loss of joint cartilage and is a major cause of disability in Canada, with an estimated CN$195 billion annual cost. Knee OA leads to persistent pain and loss of function, and treatment goals primarily focus on symptom relief and retention of function. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) has therapeutic benefits, and numerous recently published meta-analyses (MAs) and commentaries have highlighted new evidence on the role of IAHA therapy for knee OA. A diverse, multidisciplinary group of specialists met independently in closed sessions to review findings from eight MAs with literature search end dates no earlier than 2012 to address controversies surrounding IAHA therapy for mild-to-moderate knee OA within the Canadian treatment context. Outcomes from a total of eight MAs were reviewed, and consistent and statistically significant improvements in pain, function and stiffness up to 26 weeks were found with IAHA therapy compared with IA placebo or controls, regardless of MA size or trial quality. These findings are in line with those of a Cochrane review, another recent systematic review and patient satisfaction survey. Overall, three MAs reported outcomes based on molecular weight (MW), with the two reporting effect sizes showing significantly improved pain outcomes for higher compared with lower MW HAs. Recent evidence suggests that HA therapy is well tolerated with no increased risk of serious adverse events compared with placebo and the full therapeutic effect of IAHA therapy appears to have considerable clinical importance, consisting of the combined IA placebo and HA therapeutic effects. IAHA therapy is a well-tolerated and effective option for patients with mild-to-moderate knee OA failing first-line pharmacological therapy.

Pointed Progress in Second-Line Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The Rapidly Evolving Field of Checkpoint Inhibition.

PURPOSE: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is globally prevalent and associated with high rates of mortality. Immune checkpoint pathways are often exploited by tumors to evade immunity-mediated destruction, and checkpoint inhibitors can reactivate tumor-related immune responses. This review considers available clinical evidence for the use of checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of second-line advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Our systematic search revealed 20 clinical trials evaluating checkpoint inhibitors in the second-line setting, three of which were randomized trials comparing programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors to docetaxel, the current standard of care in this setting. RESULTS: A randomized phase II trial comparing the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab to docetaxel did not demonstrate improved survival for atezolizumab in patients overall, although a trend toward improved survival with increased PD-L1 expression was apparent. Twin phase III trials showed significantly improved survival for the programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor nivolumab compared with docetaxel in patients with both squamous and nonsquamous disease. PD-L1 expression correlated with improved survival in patients with nonsquamous disease, and patients with low levels of PD-L1 expression (< 10%) and those with EGFR mutations are unlikely to benefit. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is generally well tolerated and associated with low rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events compared with standard care. CONCLUSION: Level 1 evidence exists to support the use of nivolumab as second-line treatment of patients with squamous advanced NSCLC, as well as in select patients with nonsquamous disease. Benefits remain unknown in patients with targetable driver mutations, and use of PD-L1 expression to guide therapy remains controversial. Results from ongoing randomized trials evaluating biomarkers and other checkpoint inhibitors will further our understanding of this rapidly evolving area of oncology.