TBCRC 039: a phase II study of preoperative ruxolitinib with or without paclitaxel for triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) have overall poor clinical outcomes, with triple-negative IBC (TN-IBC) being associated with the worst survival, warranting the investigation of novel therapies. Preclinical studies implied that ruxolitinib (RUX), a JAK1/2 inhibitor, may be an effective therapy for TN-IBC. METHODS: We conducted a randomized phase II study with nested window-of-opportunity in TN-IBC. Treatment-naïve patients received a 7-day run-in of RUX alone or RUX plus paclitaxel (PAC). After the run-in, those who received RUX alone proceeded to neoadjuvant therapy with either RUX + PAC or PAC alone for 12 weeks; those who had received RUX + PAC continued treatment for 12 weeks. All patients subsequently received 4 cycles of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide prior to surgery. Research tumor biopsies were performed at baseline (pre-run-in) and after run-in therapy. Tumors were evaluated for phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) by immunostaining, and a subset was also analyzed by RNA-seq. The primary endpoint was the percent of pSTAT3-positive pre-run-in tumors that became pSTAT3-negative. Secondary endpoints included pathologic complete response (pCR). RESULTS: Overall, 23 patients were enrolled, of whom 21 completed preoperative therapy. Two patients achieved pCR (8.7%). pSTAT3 and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling decreased in post-run-in biopsies of RUX-treated samples, while sustained treatment with RUX + PAC upregulated IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling compared to RUX alone. Both treatments decreased GZMB+ T cells implying immune suppression. RUX alone effectively inhibited JAK/STAT3 signaling but its combination with PAC led to incomplete inhibition. The immune suppressive effects of RUX alone and in combination may negate its growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells. CONCLUSION: In summary, the use of RUX in TN-IBC was associated with a decrease in pSTAT3 levels despite lack of clinical benefit. Cancer cell-specific-targeting of JAK2/STAT3 or combinations with immunotherapy may be required for further evaluation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling as a cancer therapeutic target. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov , NCT02876302. Registered 23 August 2016.

Clonal hematopoiesis in older patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The expansion of hematopoietic stem cells carrying recurrent somatic mutations, termed clonal hematopoiesis (CH), is common in elderly individuals and is associated with increased risk of myeloid malignancy and all-cause mortality. Though chemotherapy is a known risk factor for developing CH, how myelosuppressive therapies affect the short-term dynamics of CH remains incompletely understood. Most studies have been limited by retrospective design, heterogeneous patient populations, varied techniques to identifying CH, and analysis of single timepoints. METHODS: We examined serial samples from 40 older women with triple-negative or hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated on the prospective ADjuVANt Chemotherapy in the Elderly trial to evaluate the prevalence and dynamics of CH at baseline and throughout chemotherapy (6 and 12 weeks). RESULTS: CH was detected in 44% of patients at baseline and in 53% at any timepoint. Baseline patient characteristics were not associated with CH. Over the course of treatment, mutations exhibited a variety of dynamics, including emergence, expansion, contraction, and disappearance. All mutations in TP53 (n = 3) and PPM1D (n = 4), genes that regulate the DNA damage response, either became detectable or expanded over the course of treatment. Neutropenia was more common in patients with CH, particularly when the mutations became detectable during treatment, and CH was significantly associated with cyclophosphamide dose reductions and holds (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that CH is common, dynamic, and of potential clinical significance in this population. Our results should stimulate larger efforts to understand the biological and clinical importance of CH in solid tumor malignancies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03858322). Clinical trial registration number: NCT03858322.

'ADVANCE' (a pilot trial) ADjuVANt chemotherapy in the elderly: Developing and evaluating lower-toxicity chemotherapy options for older patients with breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults with breast cancer receiving neo/adjuvant chemotherapy are at high risk for poor outcomes and are underrepresented in clinical trials. The ADVANCE (ADjuVANt Chemotherapy in the Elderly) trial evaluated the feasibility of two neo/adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in parallel-enrolling cohorts of older patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer: cohort 1-triple-negative; cohort 2-hormone receptor-positive. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults age ≥ 70 years with stage I-III breast cancer warranting neo/adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Cohort 1 received weekly carboplatin (area under the curve 2) and weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 for twelve weeks; cohort 2 received weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 plus every-three-weekly cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 over twelve weeks. The primary study endpoint was feasibility, defined as ≥80% of patients receiving ≥80% of intended weeks/doses of therapy. All dose modifications were applied per clinician discretion. RESULTS: Forty women (n = 20 per cohort) were enrolled from March 25, 2019 through August 3, 2020 from three centers; 45% and 35% of patients in cohorts 1 and 2 were age > 75, respectively. Neither cohort achieved targeted thresholds for feasibility. In cohort 1, eight (40.0%) met feasibility (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.1-63.9%), while ten (50.0%) met feasibility in cohort 2 (95% CI = 27.2-72.8). Neutropenia was the most common grade 3-4 toxicity (cohort 1-65%, cohort 2-55%). In cohort 1, 80% and 85% required ≥1 dose holds of carboplatin and/or paclitaxel, respectively. In cohort 2, 10% required dose hold(s) for cyclophosphamide and/or 65% for paclitaxel. DISCUSSION: In this pragmatic pilot examining chemotherapy regimens in older adults with breast cancer, neither regimen met target goals for feasibility. Developing efficacious and tolerable regimens for older patients with breast cancer who need chemotherapy remains an important goal. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT03858322.

The Incidence of Adjacent Synchronous Invasive Carcinoma and/or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in Patients with Intraductal Papilloma without Atypia on Core Biopsy: Results from a Prospective Multi-Institutional Registry (TBCRC 034).

BACKGROUND: Available retrospective data suggest the upgrade rate for intraductal papilloma (IP) without atypia on core biopsy (CB) ranges from 0 to 12%, leading to variation in recommendations. We conducted a prospective multi-institutional trial (TBCRC 034) to determine the upgrade rate to invasive cancer (IC) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) at excision for asymptomatic IP without atypia on CB. METHODS: Prospectively identified patients with a CB diagnosis of IP who had consented to excision were included. Discordant cases, including BI-RADS > 4, and those with additional lesions requiring excision were excluded. The primary endpoint was upgrade to IC or DCIS by local pathology review with a predefined rule that an upgrade rate of ≤ 3% would not warrant routine excision. Sample size and confidence intervals were based on exact binomial calculations. Secondary endpoints included diagnostic concordance for IP between local and central pathology review and upgrade rates by central pathology review. RESULTS: The trial included116 patients (median age 56 years, range 24-82) and the most common imaging abnormality was a mass (n = 91, 78%). Per local review, 2 (1.7%) cases were upgraded to DCIS. In both of these cases central pathology review did not confirm DCIS on excision. Additionally, central pathology review confirmed IP without atypia in core biopsies of 85/116 cases (73%), and both locally upgraded cases were among them. CONCLUSION: In this prospective study of 116 IPs without atypia on CB, the upgrade rate was 1.7% by local review, suggesting that routine excision is not indicated for IP without atypia on CB with concordant imaging findings.

TBCRC 031: Randomized Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Cisplatin Versus Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide in Germline BRCA Carriers With HER2-Negative Breast Cancer (the INFORM trial).

PURPOSE: Platinum compounds have activity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in germline BRCA mutation carriers (BRCA carriers). Limited data exist for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (+) breast cancer among BRCA carriers. INFORM is a randomized, multicenter, phase II trial comparing pathologic complete response (pCR) rates (ypT0/is, N0) after neoadjuvant single-agent cisplatin (CDDP) versus doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (AC) in BRCA carriers with stage I-III human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Secondary objectives included residual cancer burden scores (RCB) of 0 or 1 (combined) and toxicity. The goal was to determine whether pCR was ≥ 20% higher with CDDP than AC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BRCA carriers with cT1-3 (≥ 1.5 cm), cN0-3 HER2-negative breast cancer were randomly assigned to preoperative CDDP (75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks × 4 doses) or AC (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2; cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 2-3 weeks × 4 doses) followed by surgery. Pathologic responses were confirmed by central review. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were randomly assigned; 117 were included in outcome analyses. Mean age was 42 years (range, 24-73 years); 69% were BRCA1+, 30% were BRCA2+, and 2% had both mutations. Clinical stage was I for 19%, II for 63%, and III for 18%; 45% had nodal involvement at baseline. Seventy percent had TNBC. Clinical and tumor characteristics were well matched between treatment arms. The pCR rate was 18% with CDDP and 26% with AC, yielding a risk ratio (RR) of 0.70 (90% CI, 0.39 to 1.2). The risk of RCB 0 or 1 (RCB 0/1) was 33% with CDDP and 46% with AC (RR, 0.73; 90% CI, 0.50 to 1.1). Both regimens were generally well tolerated without unexpected toxicities. CONCLUSION: pCR or RCB 0/1 is not significantly higher with CDDP than with AC in BRCA carriers with stage I-III HER2-negative breast cancer for both TNBC and ER+/HER2-negative disease.

Bortezomib-based immunosuppression after reduced-intensity conditioning hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: randomized phase II results.

Aprior phase I/II trial of bortezomib/tacrolimus/methotrexate prophylaxis after human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation documented low acute graft-versus-host disease incidence, with promising overall and progression-free survival. We performed an open-label three-arm 1:1:1 phase II randomized controlled trial comparing grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease between conventional tacrolimus/methotrexate (A) versus bortezomib/tacrolimus/methotrexate (B), and versus bortezomib/sirolimus/tacrolimus (C), in reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic transplantation recipients lacking HLA-matched related donors. The primary endpoint was grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease incidence rate by day +180. One hundred and thirty-eight patients (A 46, B 45, C 47) with a median age of 64 years (range: 24-75), varying malignant diagnoses and disease risk (low 14, intermediate 96, high/very high 28) received 7-8/8 HLA-mismatched (40) or matched unrelated donor (98) grafts. Median follow up in survivors was 30 months (range: 14-46). Despite early immune reconstitution differences, day +180 grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease rates were similar (A 32.6%, B 31.1%, C 21%; P=0.53 for A vs B, P=0.16 for A vs C). The 2-year non-relapse mortality incidence was similar (A 14%, B 16%, C 6.4%; P=0.62), as were relapse (A 32%, B 32%, C 38%; P=0.74), chronic graft-versus-host disease (A 59%, B 60% C 55%; P=0.66), progression-free survival (A 54%, B 52%, C 55%; P=0.95), and overall survival (A 61%, B 62%, C 62%; P=0.98). Overall, the bortezomib-based regimens evaluated did not improve outcomes compared with tacrolimus/methotrexate therapy. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: 01754389.

Efficacy, durability, and response predictors of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is associated with inadequate reconstitution of tolerogenic CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). Previous phase 1 studies identified a low daily dose of interleukin-2 (IL-2) that was well tolerated, did not exacerbate alloimmunity, augmented Treg in vivo, and was associated with improvement of active cGVHD. In the current phase 2 study, 35 adults with steroid-refractory cGVHD received daily IL-2 (1 × 10(6) IU/m(2)) for 12 weeks. Median time from transplantation and cGVHD onset was 616 days (range, 270-2145 days) and 317 days (range, 28-1880 days), respectively. Two patients withdrew and 5 required IL-2 dose reductions due to side effects. Twenty of 33 evaluable patients (61%) had clinical responses at multiple cGVHD sites (liver, skin, gastrointestinal tract, lung, joint/muscle/fascia). Three patients (9%) had progressive cGVHD. Compared with pretreatment levels, Treg and natural killer cell counts rose >fivefold (P < .001) and >fourfold (P < .001), respectively, without significant change in conventional CD4 T cells (Tcons) or CD8 T cells. The Treg:Tcon ratio rose >fivefold (P < .001). Clinical responders initiated IL-2 earlier (508 vs 917 days after transplantation, P = .005; 249 vs 461 days after cGVHD onset; P = .03). Treg:Tcon ratios ≥0.07 at baseline and ≥0.2 at week 1 also predicted clinical response (P = .003; P = .0003, respectively). After a 4-week treatment hiatus, clinical responders were eligible to continue IL-2 therapy indefinitely. During 2 years of extended IL-2 therapy, clinical and Treg immune responses persisted, while Tcon count and Treg:Tcon ratio gradually normalized. Low-dose IL-2 provides durable clinical improvement in active cGVHD and extended therapy is well-tolerated.

The addition of sirolimus to the graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimen in reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation for lymphoma: a multicentre randomized trial.

Inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has clinical activity in lymphoma. The mTOR inhibitor sirolimus has been used in the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A retrospective study suggested that patients with lymphoma undergoing reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) HSCT who received sirolimus as part of their GVHD prophylaxis regimen had a lower rate of relapse. We therefore performed a multicentre randomized trial comparing tacrolimus, sirolimus and methotrexate to standard regimens in adult patients undergoing RIC HSCT for lymphoma in order to assess the possible benefit of sirolimus on HSCT outcome. 139 patients were randomized. There was no difference overall in 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, relapse, non-relapse mortality or chronic GVHD. However, the sirolimus-containing arm had a significantly lower incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (9% vs. 25%, P = 0·015), which was more marked for unrelated donor grafts. In conclusion, the addition of sirolimus for GVHD prophylaxis in RIC HSCT is associated with no increased overall toxicity and a lower risk of acute GVHD, although it does not improve survival; this regimen is an acceptable option for GVHD prevention in RIC HSCT. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00928018).

A Bortezomib-Based Regimen Offers Promising Survival and Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis in Myeloablative HLA-Mismatched and Unrelated Donor Transplantation: A Phase II Trial.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients lacking HLA-matched related donors have increased graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Bortezomib added to reduced-intensity conditioning can offer benefit in T cell-replete HLA-mismatched HSCT and may also benefit myeloablative conditioning (MAC) transplants. We conducted a phase II trial of short-course bortezomib plus standard tacrolimus/methotrexate after busulfan/fludarabine MAC in 34 patients with predominantly myeloid malignancies. Fourteen (41%) received 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) and 20 (59%) received 7/8 HLA-mismatched related/unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell grafts. Median age was 49 years (range, 21 to 60), and median follow-up was 25 months (range, 11 to 36). The regimen was well tolerated. No dose modifications were required. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment occurred at a median of 14 (range, 10 to 33) and 17 (range, 10 to 54) days, respectively. Median 30-day donor chimerism was 99% (range, 90 to 100), and 100-day grades II to IV and III to IV acute GVHD incidence was 32% and 12% respectively. One-year chronic GVHD incidence was 50%. Two-year cumulative incidence of both NRM and relapse was 16%. Two-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 70% and 71%, respectively. Outcomes were comparable to an 8/8 MUD MAC cohort (n = 45). Immune reconstitution was robust. Bortezomib-based MAC HSCT is well tolerated, with HLA-mismatched outcomes comparable with 8/8 MUD MAC HSCT, and is suitable for randomized evaluation. (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01323920.).

A source of artifact in the lacZ reversion assay in Escherichia coli.

The lacZ reversion assay in Escherichia coli measures point mutations that occur by specific base substitutions and frameshift mutations. The tester strains cannot use lactose as a carbon source (Lac(-)), and revertants are easily detected by growth on lactose medium (Lac(+)). Six strains identify the six possible base substitutions, and five strains measure +G, -G, -CG, +A and -A frameshifts. Strong mutagens give dose-dependent increases in numbers of revertants per plate and revertant frequencies. Testing compounds that are arguably nonmutagens or weakly mutagenic, we often noted statistically significant dose-dependent increases in revertant frequency that were not accompanied by an absolute increase in numbers of revertants. The increase in frequency was wholly ascribable to a declining number of viable cells owing to toxicity. Analysis of the conditions revealed that the frequency of spontaneous revertants is higher when there are fewer viable cells per plate. The phenomenon resembles "adaptive" or "stress" mutagenesis, whereby lactose revertants accumulate in Lac(-) bacteria under starvation conditions in the absence of catabolite repression. Adaptive mutation is observed after long incubation and might be expected to be irrelevant in a standard assay using 48-h incubation. However, we found that elevated revertant frequencies occur under typical assay conditions when the bacterial lawn is thin, and this can cause increases in revertant frequency that mimic chemical mutagenesis when treatments are toxic but not mutagenic. Responses that resemble chemical mutagenesis were observed in the absence of mutagenic treatment in strains that revert by different frameshift mutations. The magnitude of the artifact is affected by cell density, dilution, culture age, incubation time, catabolite repression and the age and composition of media. Although the specific reversion assay is effective for quickly distinguishing classes of mutations induced by potent mutagens, its utility for discerning effects of weak mutagens may be compromised by the artifact.