Obinutuzumab Pretreatment as a Novel Approach to Mitigate Formation of Anti-Drug Antibodies Against Cergutuzumab Amunaleukin in Patients with Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: The immunocytokine cergutuzumab amunaleukin (CEA-IL2v) showed manageable safety and favorable pharmacodynamics in phase I/Ib trials in patients with advanced/metastatic carcinoembryonic antigen-positive (CEA+) solid tumors, but this was accompanied by a high incidence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). We examined B-cell depletion with obinutuzumab as a potential mitigation strategy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Preclinical data comparing B-cell depletion with rituximab versus obinutuzumab are summarized. Substudies of phase I/Ib trials investigated the effect of obinutuzumab pretreatment on ADA development, safety, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of CEA-IL2v ± atezolizumab in patients with advanced/metastatic or unresectable CEA+ solid tumors who had progressed on standard of care. RESULTS: Preclinical data showed superior B-cell depletion with obinutuzumab versus rituximab. In clinical studies, patients received CEA-IL2v monotherapy with (n = 16) or without (n = 6) obinutuzumab pretreatment (monotherapy study), or CEA-IL2v + atezolizumab + obinutuzumab pretreatment (n = 5; combination study). In the monotherapy study, after four cycles (every 2 weeks treatment), 0/15 evaluable patients administered obinutuzumab pretreatment had ADAs versus 4/6 patients without obinutuzumab. Obinutuzumab pretreatment with CEA-IL2v monotherapy showed no new safety signals and pharmacodynamic data suggested minimal impact on T cells and natural killer cells. Conversely, increased liver toxicity was observed in the combination study (CEA-IL2v + atezolizumab + obinutuzumab pretreatment). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that obinutuzumab pretreatment before CEA-IL2v administration in patients with CEA+ solid tumors may be a feasible and potent ADA mitigation strategy, with an acceptable safety profile, supporting broader investigation of obinutuzumab pretreatment for ADA mitigation in other settings.

The search for therapeutic targets in lung cancer: Preclinical and human studies of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 expression and its associated molecular landscape.

OBJECTIVES: CEACAM5 is a cell-surface glycoprotein expressed on epithelial cells of some solid tumors. Tusamitamab ravtansine (SAR408701), a humanized antibody-drug conjugate targeting CEACAM5, is in clinical development for nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSQ-NSCLC) with CEACAM5 high expression (HE), defined as membranous CEACAM5 immunohistochemistry staining at ≥ 2+ intensity in ≥ 50% of tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated correlations between CEACAM5 expression by immunohistochemistry, CEACAM5 protein expression by ELISA, and CEACAM5 RNA expression by RNA-seq in NSQ-NSCLC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, and tumor responses to tusamitamab ravtansine in these models. We assessed prevalence of CEACAM5 HE, clinicopathologic characteristics and molecular markers in patients with NSQ-NSCLC in clinical cohorts. RESULTS: In a lung PDX set of 10 NSQ-NSCLC specimens, correlations between CEACAM5 by IHC, ELISA and RNA-seq ranged from 0.72 to 0.88. In a larger lung PDX set, higher H-scores were present in NSQ- (n = 93) vs SQ-NSCLC (n = 128) models, and in 12 of these NSQ-NSCLC models, more tumor responses to tusamitamab ravtansine occurred in CEACAM5 HE (5/8; 62.5%) versus moderate or negative expression (1/4; 25%), including 3 with KRAS mutations among the 6 responders. In clinical NSQ-NSCLC samples, CEACAM5 HE prevalence was (52/214; 24.3%) in primary tumors and (6/17; 35.3%) in metastases. In NSQ-NSCLC primary tumors, CEACAM5 HE prevalence was significantly higher in KRAS-altered versus wild-type (35.0% vs 19.5%; P = 0.028) and in programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) negative (tumor cells 0%)/low (1-49%) versus high (≥50%) (33.3%, 26.1%, 5.0%; P = 0.031), but not significantly different in EGFR-mutated versus wild-type (20.0% vs 25.7%, P = 0.626). CONCLUSIONS: In NSQ-NSCLC tumors, CEACAM5 HE prevalence was 24.3% overall and was higher with KRAS altered and with PD-L1 negative/low tumors but similar regardless of EGFR mutation status. These findings support targeting CEACAM5 and the clinical development of tusamitamab ravtansine for patients with NSQ-NSCLC with CEACAM5 HE.

A Phase I Trial of the Dual MET Kinase/OCT-2 Inhibitor OMO-1 in Metastatic Solid Malignancies Including MET Exon 14 Mutated Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations (METex14) and MET amplifications has improved patients' outcomes. The development of more potent MET kinase inhibitors could further benefit these patients. The aim of this trial is to determine the safety and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of OMO-1 (an oral dual MET kinase/OCT-2 inhibitor) and to assess preliminary clinical efficacy in METex14-positive NSCLC and other MET-positive solid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a first-in-patient, open-label, multicenter study of OMO-1 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid malignancies. A standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design was utilized starting at a dose level of 100 mg BID continuously. Preliminary efficacy was investigated in patients with METex14-positive NSCLC, and MET amplified NSCLC and other solid tumors (MET basket). RESULTS: In the dose-escalation part, 24 patients were included in 5 dose levels ranging from 100 mg twice daily (BID) to 400 mg BID. Most common adverse events (≥ 20%) were nausea, fatigue, vomiting, increased blood creatinine, and headache. The RP2D was determined at 250 mg BID. In the expansion cohorts, 15 patients were included (10 in METex14-positive NSCLC cohort and 5 in MET basket cohort) and received either 200 or 250 mg BID. Eight out of the 10 patients with METex14 positive NSCLC had stable disease as the best response. CONCLUSION: OMO-1 was tolerated at the dose of 250 mg BID and shows initial signs of MET inhibition and anti-tumor activity in METex14 mutated NSCLC patients.

Phase Ib Study of Telisotuzumab Vedotin in Combination With Erlotinib in Patients With c-Met Protein-Expressing Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Overexpression of c-Met protein and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations can co-occur in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), providing strong rationale for dual targeting. Telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V), a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate targeting c-Met, has shown a tolerable safety profile and antitumor activity as monotherapy. Herein, we report the results of a phase Ib study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02099058) evaluating Teliso-V plus erlotinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in patients with c-Met-positive (+) NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study evaluated Teliso-V (2.7 mg/kg once every 21 days) plus erlotinib (150 mg once daily) in adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with c-Met+ NSCLC. Later enrollment required presence of an EGFR-activating mutation (EGFR-M+) and progression on a prior EGFR TKI. End points included safety, pharmacokinetics, objective response rate (ORR), and progression-free survival (PFS). The efficacy-evaluable population consisted of c-Met+ patients (confirmed histology [H]-score ≥ 150) who had at least one postbaseline scan; c-Met+ patients with H-scores ≥ 225 were classified as c-Met high. RESULTS: As of January 2020, 42 patients were enrolled (N = 36 efficacy-evaluable). Neuropathies were the most common any-grade adverse events reported, with 24 of 42 patients (57%) experiencing at least one event. The pharmacokinetic profile of Teliso-V plus erlotinib was similar to Teliso-V monotherapy. Median PFS for all efficacy-evaluable patients was 5.9 months (95% CI, 2.8 to not reached). ORR for EGFR-M+ patients (n = 28) was 32.1%. Of EGFR-M+ patients, those who were c-Met high (n = 15) had an ORR of 52.6%. Median PFS was 6.8 months for non-T790M+ and for those whose T790M status was unknown, versus 3.7 months for T790M+. CONCLUSION: Teliso-V plus erlotinib showed encouraging antitumor activity and acceptable toxicity in EGFR TKI-pretreated patients with EGFR-M+, c-Met+ NSCLC.

First-in-human study of an OX40 (ivuxolimab) and 4-1BB (utomilumab) agonistic antibody combination in patients with advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Ivuxolimab (PF-04518600) and utomilumab (PF-05082566) are humanized agonistic IgG2 monoclonal antibodies against OX40 and 4-1BB, respectively. This first-in-human, multicenter, open-label, phase I, dose-escalation/dose-expansion study explored safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of ivuxolimab+utomilumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: Dose-escalation: patients with advanced bladder, gastric, or cervical cancer, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were unresponsive to available therapies, had no standard therapy available or declined standard therapy were enrolled into five dose cohorts: ivuxolimab (0.1-3 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W)) intravenously plus utomilumab (20 or 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W)) intravenously. Dose-expansion: patients with melanoma (n=10) and NSCLC (n=20) who progressed on prior anti-programmed death receptor 1/programmed death ligand-1 and/or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (melanoma) received ivuxolimab 30 mg Q2W intravenously plus utomilumab 20 mg Q4W intravenously. Adverse events (AEs) were graded per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.4.03 and efficacy was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) V.1.1 and immune-related RECIST (irRECIST). Paired tumor biopsies and whole blood were collected to assess pharmacodynamic effects and immunophenotyping. Whole blood samples were collected longitudinally for immunophenotyping. RESULTS: Dose-escalation: 57 patients were enrolled; 2 (3.5%) patients with melanoma (0.3 mg/kg+20 mg and 0.3 mg/kg+100 mg) achieved partial response (PR), 18 (31.6%) patients achieved stable disease (SD); the disease control rate (DCR) was 35.1% across all dose levels. Dose-expansion: 30 patients were enrolled; 1 patient with NSCLC achieved PR lasting >77 weeks. Seven of 10 patients with melanoma (70%) and 7 of 20 patients with NSCLC (35%) achieved SD: median (range) duration of SD was 18.9 (13.9-49.0) weeks for the melanoma cohort versus 24.1 (14.3-77.9+) weeks for the NSCLC cohort; DCR (NSCLC) was 40%. Grade 3-4 treatment-emergent AEs were reported in 28 (49.1%) patients versus 11 (36.7%) patients in dose-escalation and dose-expansion, respectively. There were no grade 5 AEs deemed attributable to treatment. Ivuxolimab area under the concentration-time curve increased in a dose-dependent manner at 0.3-3 mg/kg doses. CONCLUSIONS: Ivuxolimab+utomilumab was found to be well tolerated and demonstrated preliminary antitumor activity in selected groups of patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02315066.

A Phase 1b Study of Telisotuzumab Vedotin in Combination With Nivolumab in Patients With NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: Telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V) is an anti-c-Met-directed antibody-drug conjugate that has exhibited antitumor activity as monotherapy in NSCLC. Its potential activity combined with programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitors has not been previously evaluated. METHODS: In a phase 1b study (NCT02099058), adult patients (≥18 y) with advanced NSCLC received combination therapy with Teliso-V (1.6, 1.9, or 2.2 mg/kg, every 2 wk) plus nivolumab (3 mg/kg, 240 mg, or per locally approved label). The primary objective was to assess safety and tolerability; secondary objectives included the evaluation of antitumor activity. RESULTS: As of January 2020, a total of 37 patients received treatment with Teliso-V (safety population) in combination with nivolumab; 27 patients (efficacy population) were c-Met immunohistochemistry-positive. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status was evaluated in the efficacy population (PD-L1-positive [PD-L1+]: n = 15; PD-L1-negative [PD-L1-]: n = 9; PD-L1-unknown: n = 3). The median age was 67 years and 74% (20 of 27) of patients were naive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The most common any-grade treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (27%) and peripheral sensory neuropathy (19%). The pharmacokinetic profile of Teliso-V plus nivolumab was similar to Teliso-V monotherapy. The objective response rate was 7.4%, with two patients (PD-L1+, c-Met immunohistochemistry H-score 190, n = 1; PD-L1-, c-Met H-score 290, n = 1) having a confirmed partial response. Overall median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (PD-L1+: 7.2 mo; PD-L1-: 4.5 mo; PD-L1-unknown: not reached). CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with Teliso-V plus nivolumab was well tolerated in patients with c-Met+ NSCLC with limited antitumor activity.

Phase I Study of 2- or 3-Week Dosing of Telisotuzumab Vedotin, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting c-Met, Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V) is an anti-c-Met-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Here, we present safety and efficacy data from a phase I/Ib study of Teliso-V monotherapy evaluated in once every 2 weeks/once every 3 weeks schedules in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: During dose escalation, patients received Teliso-V monotherapy intravenously once every 3 weeks (0.15-3.3 mg/kg) or once every 2 weeks (1.6-2.2 mg/kg). The dose-expansion phase enrolled patients with NSCLC and c-Met H-score ≥150 (c-Met+) or MET amplification/exon 14 skipping mutations. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy were assessed. Herein, the analysis of patients receiving ≥1.6 mg/kg once every 2 weeks or ≥2.4 mg/kg once every 3 weeks Teliso-V is reported. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with NSCLC were enrolled and received ≥1.6 mg/kg Teliso-V once every 2 weeks (n = 28) or ≥2.4 mg/kg Teliso-V once every 3 weeks (n = 24). The most common adverse events were fatigue (54%), peripheral neuropathy (42%), and nausea (38%). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed for Teliso-V once every 2 weeks and once every 3 weeks up to 2.2 and 2.7 mg/kg, respectively. The recommended phase II dose was established at 1.9 mg/kg once every 2 weeks and 2.7 mg/kg once every 3 weeks on the basis of overall safety and pharmacokinetics. Forty of 52 patients were c-Met+ (33 nonsquamous, 6 squamous, 1 mixed histology) and were included in the efficacy-evaluable population. Of those, 9 (23%) had objective responses with median duration of response of 8.7 months; median progression-free survival was 5.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Teliso-V monotherapy was tolerated and showed antitumor activity in c-Met+ NSCLC. On the basis of overall safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy outcomes, 1.9 mg/kg Teliso-V once every 2 weeks and 2.7 mg/kg once every 3 weeks schedules were selected for further clinical development.

Serum soluble CD26/DPP4 titer variation is a potential prognostic biomarker in cancer therapy with a humanized anti-CD26 antibody.

BACKGROUND: The phase I trial of the humanized anti-CD26 monoclonal antibody YS110 for CD26-expressing tumors was conducted recently. The present study identifies a potential prognostic biomarker for CD26-targeted therapy based on the phase I data. METHODS: Box and Whisker plot analysis, Scatter plot analysis, Peason product moment correlation/Spearman's rank-difference correlation, Bar graph analysis, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) were used to examine the correlation between sCD26 titer variation with YS110 administration and tumor volume change, RECIST criteria evaluation and progression free survival (PFS). Mechanism for serum sCD26 titer variation was confirmed by in vitro experimentation. RESULTS: Serum sCD26/DPP4 titer was reduced following YS110 administration and gradually recovered until the next infusion. Serum sCD26/DPP4 titer before the next infusion was sustained at lower levels in Stable Disease (SD) cases compared to Progressive Disease cases. ROC analysis defined the cut-off level of serum sCD26/DPP4 titer variation at day 29 pre/post for the clinical outcome of SD as tumor response or PFS. In vitro experimentation confirmed that YS110 addition reduced sCD26 production from CD26-expressing tumor and non-tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that serum sCD26/DPP4 titer variation in the early phase of YS110 treatment is a predictive biomarker for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.

Feasibility and first reports of the MATCH-R repeated biopsy trial at Gustave Roussy.

Unravelling the biological processes driving tumour resistance is necessary to support the development of innovative treatment strategies. We report the design and feasibility of the MATCH-R prospective trial led by Gustave Roussy with the primary objective of characterizing the molecular mechanisms of resistance to cancer treatments. The primary clinical endpoints consist of analyzing the type and frequency of molecular alterations in resistant tumours and compare these to samples prior to treatment. Patients experiencing disease progression after an initial partial response or stable disease for at least 24 weeks underwent a tumour biopsy guided by CT or ultrasound. Molecular profiling of tumours was performed using whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing and panel sequencing. At data cut-off for feasibility analysis, out of 333 inclusions, tumour biopsies were obtained in 303 cases (91%). From these biopsies, 278 (83%) had sufficient quality for analysis by high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS). All 278 samples underwent targeted NGS, 215 (70.9%) RNA sequencing and 222 (73.2%) whole exome sequencing. In total, 163 tumours were implanted in NOD scid gamma (NSG) or nude mice and 54 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were established, with a success rate of 33%. Adverse events secondary to invasive tumour sampling occurred in 24 patients (7.6%). Study recruitment is still ongoing. Systematic molecular profiling of tumours and the development of patient-derived models of acquired resistance to targeted agents and immunotherapy is feasible and can drive the selection of the next therapeutic strategy.

Chemotherapy beyond immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone or in combination with chemotherapy (CT) are the current standard of therapy in several cancer types. Patients (pts) with lung cancer display higher response rates to CT when given after ICIs. Although ICIs have failed to demonstrate antitumour activity in microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), little is known about CT effect after ICIs. We aimed to assess whether sequential ICIs followed by CT may be an alternative therapeutic approach in a population of pts with mCRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed CT after ICI (CAICI) failure in pts with mCRC. The ICI regimen consisted of anti-PD(L)1 alone or in combination. The primary end-point was objective response rate. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were secondary end-points. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2018, 29 pts with mCRC received CAICI (MSS tumours, 27 pts [86%]). The median number of previous lines was 4 (range, 2-7). Regimens included TAS-102 (n = 14), FOLFIRI (irinotecan, leucovorin, and fluorouracil; n = 6) or FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil; n = 4), regorafenib (n = 3) and carboplatin (1 pt with BRCA mutation). Partial response and stable disease were observed in 4 (19%) and 9 (43%) pts, respectively (disease control rate, 62%). The median PFS and OS were 3.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5-5.4) and 8.0 months (95% CI = 4.2-14.0), respectively. CONCLUSION: ICIs administered before CT might enhance cytotoxic effects even in pts with immunorefractory MSS mCRC. The results of this small cohort need to be validated in independent prospective cohorts. The role of ICIs as modifiers of both tumour cells and microenvironment in mCRC deserves further research.

Diverse Resistance Mechanisms to the Third-Generation ALK Inhibitor Lorlatinib in ALK-Rearranged Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Lorlatinib is a third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor with proven efficacy in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer previously treated with first- and second-generation ALK inhibitors. Beside compound mutations in the ALK kinase domain, other resistance mechanisms driving lorlatinib resistance remain unknown. We aimed to characterize the mechanisms of resistance to lorlatinib occurring in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer and design new therapeutic strategies in this setting. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Resistance mechanisms were investigated in 5 patients resistant to lorlatinib. Longitudinal tumor biopsies were studied using high-throughput next-generation sequencing. Patient-derived models were developed to characterize the acquired resistance mechanisms, and Ba/F3 cell mutants were generated to study the effect of novel ALK compound mutations. Drug combinatory strategies were evaluated in vitro and in vivo to overcome lorlatinib resistance. RESULTS: Diverse biological mechanisms leading to lorlatinib resistance were identified. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated resistance in two patient-derived cell lines and was susceptible to dual SRC and ALK inhibition. We characterized three ALK kinase domain compound mutations occurring in patients, L1196M/D1203N, F1174L/G1202R, and C1156Y/G1269A, with differential susceptibility to ALK inhibition by lorlatinib. We identified a novel bypass mechanism of resistance caused by NF2 loss-of-function mutations, conferring sensitivity to treatment with mTOR inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that mechanisms of resistance to lorlatinib are diverse and complex, requiring new therapeutic strategies to tailor treatment upon disease progression.

Long-Term Survival in Patients Responding to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy and Disease Outcome upon Treatment Discontinuation.

PURPOSE: Anti-PD-(L)1 can provide overall survival (OS) benefits over conventional treatments for patients with many different cancer types. However, the long-term outcome of cancer patients responding to these therapies remains unknown. This study is an exploratory study that aimed to describe the long-term survival of patients responding to anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapy across multiple cancer types.Patients and Methods: Data from patients treated with an anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapy in a phase I trial at Gustave Roussy were retrospectively analyzed over a period of 5 years. All cancer types (n = 19) were included. Clinical and biological factors associated with response, long-term survival, and secondary refractory disease were studied. RESULTS: Among 262 eligible patients, the overall objective response rate was 29%. The median progression-free survival of responder patients (RP) at 3 months was 30 months, and the median OS of RP was not reached after a median follow-up of 34 months. In RPs, 3- and 5-year OS percentages were 84% and 64%, respectively. No death occurred in the 21 complete responders (CR) during the overall follow-up. However, many partial responders (PR) showed subsequent tumor relapses to treatment. Long responders (response ≥2 years) represented 11.8% of the overall population. These findings should be validated in further prospective studies. CONCLUSIONS: There are currently no differences in therapeutic strategies between CRs and PRs to anti-PD-(L)1. We found a striking difference in OS between these two types of responses. Our results are in favor of evaluating patient stratification strategies and intensification of treatments when tumor lesions of a partial responder to immunotherapy stop improving.See related commentary by Cohen and Flaherty, p. 910.

First-in-Human Phase I, Dose-Escalation and -Expansion Study of Telisotuzumab Vedotin, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting c-Met, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: This first-in-human study evaluated telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V), formerly called ABBV-399, an antibody-drug conjugate of the anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody ABT-700 and monomethyl auristatin E. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For dose escalation, three to six patients with advanced solid tumors were enrolled in eight cohorts (0.15 to 3.3 mg/kg). The dose-expansion phase enrolled patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with c-Met-overexpressing tumors (c-Met positive; immunohistochemistry membrane H-score ≥ 150). Patients received Teliso-V monotherapy intravenously on day 1 once every 3 weeks. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and maximum tolerated dose were determined. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were enrolled (median age, 65 years; 35.4% NSCLC; median four prior therapies). One patient each in the 3.0-mg/kg (n = 9) and 3.3-mg/kg (n = 3) cohorts experienced dose-limiting toxicities. Although the maximum tolerated dose was not formally identified, the recommended phase II dose was defined as 2.7 mg/kg on the basis of overall safety and tolerability. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (any grade) were fatigue (42%), nausea (27%), constipation (27%), decreased appetite (23%), vomiting (21%), dyspnea (21%), diarrhea (19%), peripheral edema (19%), and neuropathy (17%). The most frequent Teliso-V-related grade ≥ 3 adverse events were fatigue, anemia, neutropenia, and hypoalbuminemia (4% each). Teliso-V and total antibody pharmacokinetics were approximately dose proportional, with a mean harmonic half-life of 2 to 4 days each. Prospective screening identified 35 (60%) of 58 patients with c-Met-positive NSCLC. Of 16 patients with c-Met-positive NSCLC who were treated with Teliso-V 2.4 to 3.0 mg/kg, three (18.8%; 95% CI, 4.1% to 45.7%) achieved a partial response (median response duration, 4.8 months; median progression-free survival, 5.7 months; 95% CI, 1.2 months to 15.4 months). No other patients experienced a response. CONCLUSION: Teliso-V monotherapy demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability profiles, with encouraging evidence of antitumor activity in patients with c-Met-positive NSCLC.

Organisational factors influencing early clinical trials enrollment: Gustave Roussy experience.

PURPOSE: Enrolment process influences the likelihood of patients' inclusion in early clinical trials (ECT) through social, medical and organisational factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients referred from 2008 to 2016 to the Drug Development Department (DITEP) of Gustave Roussy (GR) were reviewed. Referring physician, organisational factors, medical and socioeconomic characteristics for patients were analysed. Multivariate analysis was performed with regard to those factors. A telephone survey was conducted on a sample of referring physicians located outside GR (N = 142). RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2016, 8694 requests were received with 49% from external physicians. Here, 4517 were male patients with a median age of 58 [49-66] years (range 18-85). Tumour types were gastrointestinal (28%), lung (19%), breast (9%) and gynaecologic (8%). Mean enrolment rate was 37% (ranging from 24 to 45%). From 2008 to 2016, the enrolment rate decreases from 39% to 24%. In the meantime, DITEP trials portfolio evolves with the part of precision medicine trials increase from 12% to 40%. Factors that were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of being enrolled were referral from an external physician (OR 0.15 s.16-0.21]) compared to a physician from DITEP and year of the request (2.74 [1.8-2.9] 2008 versus 2016). The enrolment rate and the number of patients addressed have a high variability regarding referring physicians, which is little explained by characteristics as training, previous experience or attitude regarding ECT. CONCLUSION: Beyond patients' individual characteristics, we show that organisational and professional factors have a major impact on likelihood of enrolment in ECT.

Efficacy of histology-agnostic and molecularly-driven HER2 inhibitors for refractory cancers.

A targeted therapy is recommended in case of ERBB2 alteration for breast and gastric carcinomas, but miscellaneous other tumor types are ERBB2-altered at low prevalence. Broadening the administration of HER2 inhibitors across tumor types and genomic alterations could benefit to patients with refractory metastatic tumors. Targeted next-generation-sequencing (tNGS) and comparative genomic hybridization array (CGH) have been performed on fresh tumor biopsies of patients included in the MOSCATO-01 and ongoing MOSCATO-02 trials to administrate HER2 inhibitors in case of ERBB2 pathogenic mutation of amplification. Between December 2011 and January 2017 a molecular analysis was performed for 934 patients (759 CGH and 912 tNGS). A novel ERBB2 alteration has been found in 4.7% (n = 44/934), including 1.5% (n = 14/912) ERBB2 mutations, and 4% (n = 30/759) ERBB2 amplifications. A matched HER2 inhibitor was administrated to 70% (31/44) of patients and consisted in trastuzumab plus chemotherapy for 90% of them (28/31). On the 31 evaluable patients, 1 complete response (CR), 10 partial response (PR) and 2 stable disease (SD) >24 weeks were observed accounting for a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 42% (n = 13/31, 95% CI 25-61%). Besides breast and oesogastric carcinomas, 19 patients affected by 8 different tumor types had a CBR of 25% for ERBB2 mutations (n = 2/8, 95% CI 3%-65%, with 2 PR) and 64% for ERBB2 amplifications (n = 7/11, 95% CI 31%-89%; with 1 CR, 4 PR, 2 SD). ERBB2 genomic alterations were diffuse across metastatic tumor types and signs of efficacy emerged for HER2 targeted treatments, especially in case of ERBB2 amplifications or a p.S310Y ERBB2 mutation.

Human epidermal receptor family inhibitors in patients with ERBB3 mutated cancers: Entering the back door.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic inhibition of the human epidermal receptor 3 (ERBB3, HER3) has been challenged by the low frequency of ERBB3 somatic alterations across cancer types. We have evaluated the clinical utility to use available inhibitors of the HER family in the context of ERBB3 mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we have selected patients with somatic ERBB3 alterations detected in their tumours from the molecular screening programs running at our institution. Techniques used for molecular screening were targeted next generation sequencing, comparative genomic hybridisation and/or whole exome sequencing on fresh frozen tumour biopsies. RESULTS: On the 844 patients with a molecular portrait of their tumours, 31 (3.7%) had a somatic mutation of ERBB3. Overall, 9 patients received available inhibitors of HER family, including trastuzumab and/or lapatinib or afatinib. Sixteen patients received other molecularly targeted agents, including the Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR), the Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase (PI3K) or NOTCH inhibitors or chemotherapy, and 4 patients failed being treated. Thirteen different histological subtypes were affected by ERBB3 mutations; top ones were colorectal carcinomas (6 patients), non-small cell lung cancers (4 patients, including a squamous cell carcinoma), head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (3 patients) and breast carcinomas (3 patients). The presence of a mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the ERBB3/HER3 protein detected in four patients' tumours was significantly related to good progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.18, p value = 0.022) and overall survival (HR = 0.19, p value = 0.03) in univariate analysis. Treatment of these four patients included at least a tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib or afatinib. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory analysis suggests that mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the HER3 protein are related to a favourable outcome under HER family inhibitors.

Immunothérapie des glioblastomes.

IMMUNOTHERAPY IN GLIOBLASTOMAS: Targeting the immune system as a therapeutic strategy in solid tumors has shown great efficacy in various tumor types. However the role and success of this approach in glioblastomas remain to be determined. Recent studies demonstrated that central nervous system is no longer considered as an immunoprivileged sanctuary with impressive immune response without blood brain barrier's disruption. Improving our understanding of immune privilege in the central nervous system could lead to better treatment strategies in gliobastomas. This review focuses on describing the immune system in the central nervous system and immuno-therapeutic strategies under development in glioblastomas.

Phase I trial of bortezomib daily dose: safety, pharmacokinetic profile, biological effects and early clinical evaluation in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose This phase I study investigated bortezomib in solid tumors used as a daily subcutaneous regimen. Previous regimens showed only modest activity in solid tumors which was potentially related to sub-optimal tumor penetration. We aimed at exploring if daily low dose administration of bortezomib may allow a greater and tolerable pharmacokinetic exposure which might be required for antitumor activity in solid tumors. Patients and methods This 3 + 3 design, dose escalation, monocentric study aimed at defining the maximum tolerated dose of daily low dose schedule of bortezomib. Tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, antitumor activity, biomarkers for proteasome inhibition, pre- and post-treatment tumor biopsies were also evaluated. Results A total of eighteen patients were dosed in 3 bortezomib cohorts (0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 mg/m2), with 3, 11 and 4 patients respectively. Three patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities: Grade (G) 3 Sweet's syndrome (at 0.6 mg/m2), G3 asthenia and anorexia or ataxia (2 patients at 0.7 mg/m2). The most common study drug-related adverse events (all grades) were thrombocytopenia (72%), fatigue (56%), neuropathy (50%), anorexia (44%) and rash (39%). Dose 0.6 mg/m2 of bortezomib was considered as the recommended phase II dose. A significant tumor shrinkage (-36% according to WHO criteria) was observed in one patient with heavily pre-treated GIST, and 2 minor responses (-20%) were recorded in two patients with melanoma and mesothelioma. Conclusion This daily subcutaneous regimen of bortezomib showed a dose dependent plasma exposure, evidence of target inhibition and preliminary signs of clinical activity. However, cumulative neurological toxicity of this dose-dense daily regimen might preclude its further clinical development.

A first-in-human phase I study of SAR125844, a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumours with MET amplification.

PURPOSE: Dysregulated MET signalling is implicated in oncogenesis. The safety and preliminary efficacy of a highly selective MET kinase inhibitor (SAR125844) was investigated in patients with advanced solid tumours and MET dysregulation. METHODS: This was a phase I dose-escalation (3 + 3 design [50-740 mg/m2]) and dose-expansion study. In the dose escalation, patients had high total MET (t-MET) expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or MET amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. In the dose expansion, patients had MET amplification (including a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC]) or phosphorylated-MET (p-MET) expression (IHC). Objectives were determination of maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of once-weekly intravenous SAR125844 based on dose-limiting toxicities; safety and pharmacokinetic profile; preliminary efficacy of SAR125844 MTD in the expansion cohort. RESULTS: In total, 72 patients were enrolled: dose escalation, N = 33; dose expansion, N = 39; 570 mg/m2 was established as the MTD. Most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were asthenia/fatigue (58.3%), nausea (31.9%), and abdominal pain, constipation, and dyspnea (27.8% for each); 58.3% of patients reported grade 3 AEs (19.4% were treatment related). Of the 29 evaluable patients with MET amplification treated at 570 mg/m2, five achieved a partial response, including four of 22 with NSCLC; 17 patients had stable disease. No response was observed in patients with high p-MET solid tumours. There was no correlation between tumour response and t-MET status or MET gene copy number. CONCLUSION: The MTD of once-weekly SAR125844 was 570 mg/m2; SAR125844 was well tolerated, with significant antitumour activity in patients with MET-amplified NSCLC. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01391533.

Cost analysis of adverse events associated with non-small cell lung cancer management in France.

BACKGROUND: Adverse events (AEs) related to medical treatments in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are frequent and need an appropriate costing in health economic models. Nevertheless, data on costs associated with AEs in NSCLC are scarce, particularly since the development of immunotherapy with specific immune-related AEs. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the costs of grades 3 and 4 AEs related to NSCLC treatments including immunotherapy in France. METHODS: Grades 3 and 4 AEs related to treatment and reported in at least 1% of patients in Phase III clinical trials for erlotinib, ramucirumab plus docetaxel, docetaxel, pemetrexed plus carboplatin plus bevacizumab, platinum-based chemotherapies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab were identified. When no cost evaluation was reported in literature, estimates on standard treatments and medical resource use for each AE were obtained thanks to an expert panel. Total cost per AE was calculated from a French national health insurance perspective and updated in 2017 Euros. Hospital stay costs were estimated based on public and private weighted tariffs and data from the French Medical Information System (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information). Costs of tests, consultations and treatments were calculated based on national reimbursement tariffs. RESULTS: Overall, costs of grades 3 and 4 AEs related to treatment ranged from €46 per event to €7,742 per year. Fourteen out of 24 AEs identified had a mean estimated cost over €2,000. The highest mean costs were related to type 1 diabetes (€7,742 per year) followed by pneumonitis (€5,786 per event), anemia (€5,752 per event), dehydration (€5,207 per event) and anorexia (€4,349 per event). Costs were mostly driven by hospitalization costs. CONCLUSION: Among the AEs identified, a majority appeared to have an important economic impact, with a management cost of at least €2,000 per event mainly driven by hospitalization costs. This study may be of interest for economic evaluations of new interventions in NSCLC.