Predictive and dynamic signature for anti-angiogenics in combination with PD-1 inhibitor in soft-tissue sarcoma: correlative studies linked to the IMMUNOSARC trial.

PURPOSE: IMMUNOSARC trial combined an anti-angiogenic agent (sunitinib) with a PD-1 inhibitor (nivolumab) in advanced sarcomas. Here we present the first correlative studies of the STS cohort enrolled in this trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and week 13. FFPE were used for transcriptomics and multiplex immunofluorescence, while peripheral blood samples were used for multiplexed immunoassays. Flow cytometry and Luminex assays were performed to validate translational findings in tumor-isolated cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from patients. RESULTS: The density of intratumoral CD8+ T cells, measured by multiplexed immuno-phenotyping, was significantly increased after treatment. This augment was accompanied by the dynamic significant increase in gene expression of CD86, CHI3L1, CXCL10, CXCL9, LAG3, and VCAM1, and the decrease in the expression levels of NR4A1. In peripheral blood, 12 proteins were significantly modulated by treatment at W13. A score integrating the dynamic expression of the 7 genes and the 12 soluble factors separated two groups with distinct progression-free survival (PFS): 4.1 months (95% CI 3.5-NR) vs 17 months (95% CI 12.0 - NR), p=0.014. This molecular score was predictive of PFS when applied to the normalized data determined in the baseline samples. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with sunitinib and nivolumab inflamed the sarcoma microenvironment, increasing CD8+ T cell density and the expression of several genes/ proteins with relevance in the response to PD-1 inhibitors. A molecular signature identified two groups of patients with distinct PFS for the combination of anti-angiogenics plus PD-1 inhibitor.

Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma (Spanish Sarcoma Research Group-GEIS).

Ewing sarcoma is a small round-cell sarcoma characterized by gene fusion involving EWSR1 (or another TET family protein like FUS) and an ETS family transcription factor. The estimated incidence of this rare bone tumor, which occurs most frequently in adolescents and young adults, is 0.3 per 100,000/year. Although only 25% of patients with Ewing sarcoma are diagnosed with metastatic disease, historical series show that this is a systemic disease. Patient management requires multimodal therapies-including intensive chemotherapy-in addition to local treatments (surgery and/or radiotherapy). In the recurrent/refractory disease setting, different approaches involving systemic treatments and local therapies are also recommended as well as patient inclusion in clinical trials whenever possible. Because of the complexity of Ewing sarcoma diagnosis and treatment, it should be carried out in specialized centers and treatment plans should be designed upfront by a multidisciplinary tumor board. These guidelines provide recommendations for diagnosis, staging, and multimodal treatment of Ewing sarcoma.

The observational EURACAN prospective clinical registry dedicated to epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: The protocol of an international and collaborative effort on an ultra-rare entity.

INTRODUCTION: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is an ultra-rare sarcoma, marked by distinctive molecular and pathological features and with a variable clinical behavior. Its natural history is still partially understood, reliable prognostic and predictive factors are lacking and many questions are still open on the optimal management. In the context of EURACAN, a prospective registry specifically dedicated to EHE was developed and launched with the aim of providing, through high-quality prospective data collection, a better understanding of this disease. STUDY DESIGN: Registry-based cohort study including only new cases of patients with a pathological and molecularly confirmed diagnosis of EHE. OBJECTIVES: To improve the understanding of EHE natural history, validate and identify new prognostic and predictive factors, clarify the activity and efficacy of currently available treatment options, describe treatment pattern. METHODS: Settings and participantsIt is an hospital-based registry established in centers with expertise in EHE including adult patients with a new pathological and molecularly confirmed diagnosis of EHE starting from the 1st December 2023. The characteristics of each patient in the facility who meets the above-mentioned inclusion criteria will be collected prospectively and longitudinally with follow-up at cancer progression and / or cancer relapse or patient death. It is a secondary use of data which will be collected from the clinical records. The data collected for the registry will not entail further examinations or admissions to the facility and/or additional appointments to those normally provided for routine patient follow-up. VariablesFull details on patients and disease features, treatment and outcome will be collected, according to common clinical practice guidelines developed and shared with all the contributing centers. In addition, data on potential confounders (e.g. comorbidity; functional status etc.) will also be collected. Statistical methodsThe data analyses will include descriptive statistics and analytical analyses. Multivariable Cox's proportional hazards model and Hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause or cause-specific mortality will be used to determine independent predictors of overall survival, recurrence and progression. RESULTS: The registry has been joined by 21 sarcoma reference centers across EU and UK, covering 10 countries. Patients' recruitment started in December 2023. The estimated completion date is December 2033 upon agreement on the achievement of all the registry objectives. The already established collaboration and participation of EHE patient's associations involved in the project will help in promoting the registry and fostering accrual.

Shared germline genomic variants in two patients with double primary gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs).

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are prevalent mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, commonly exhibiting structural variations in KIT and PDGFRA genes. While the mutational profiling of somatic tumours is well described, the genes behind the susceptibility to develop GIST are not yet fully discovered. This study explores the genomic landscape of two primary GIST cases, aiming to identify shared germline pathogenic variants and shed light on potential key players in tumourigenesis. METHODS: Two patients with distinct genotypically and phenotypically GISTs underwent germline whole genome sequencing. CNV and single nucleotide variant (SNV) analyses were performed. RESULTS: Both patients harbouring low-risk GISTs with different mutations (PDGFRA and KIT) shared homozygous germline pathogenic deletions in both CFHR1 and CFHR3 genes. CNV analysis revealed additional shared pathogenic deletions in other genes such as SLC25A24. No particular pathogenic SNV shared by both patients was detected. CONCLUSION: Our study provides new insights into germline variants that can be associated with the development of GISTs, namely, CFHR1 and CFHR3 deep deletions. Further functional validation is warranted to elucidate the precise contributions of identified germline mutations in GIST development.

Ibero-American Consensus for the Management of Peritoneal Sarcomatosis: Updated Review and Clinical Recommendations.

Peritoneal sarcomatosis is a rare malignant disease with a poor prognosis, secondary to peritoneal dissemination of abdominopelvic soft tissue sarcomas. Its rarity, together with the characteristic histological heterogeneity and the historically poor response to systemic treatments, has prevented the establishment of widely accepted treatment criteria with curative intent. In this sense, radical cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with peritonectomy procedures and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), widely used in peritoneal carcinomatosis with excellent results, have not had the same evolutionary development in patients with peritoneal sarcomatosis. A multidisciplinary working group of experts in sarcomas and peritoneal oncological surgery established a series of recommendations based on current scientific evidence for the management of peritoneal sarcomatosis, taking into account the different histological subgroups of abdominopelvic sarcomas that can cause it depending on their origin: retroperitoneal sarcomas, uterine sarcomas, and visceral/peritoneal sarcomas of GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) and non-GIST origin. This article shows the results of sarcoma experts' voting on the recommendations presented during the I Ibero-American Consensus on the Management of Peritoneal Sarcomatosis, which took place during the recent celebration of the III Hispanic-Portuguese Meeting for Updates on the Treatment of Sarcomas.

Prognostic impact of tumor location and gene expression profile in sporadic desmoid tumor.

PURPOSE: Prognostic biomarkers remain necessary in sporadic desmoid tumor (DT) because the clinical course is unpredictable. DT location along with gene expression between thoracic and abdominal wall locations was analyzed. METHOD: Sporadic DT patients (GEIS Registry) diagnosed between 1982 and 2018 who underwent upfront surgery were enrolled retrospectively in this study. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). Additionally, the gene expression profile was analyzed in DT localized in the thoracic or abdominal wall, harboring the most frequent CTNNB1 T41A mutation. RESULTS: From a total of 454 DT patients, 197 patients with sporadic DT were selected. The median age was 38.2 years (1.8-89.1) with a male/female distribution of 33.5/66.5. Most of them harbored the CTNNB1 T41A mutation (71.6 %), followed by S45F (17.8 %) and S45P (4.1 %). A significant worse median RFS was associated with males (p = 0.019), tumor size ≥ 6 cm (p = 0.001), extra-abdominal DT location (p < 0.001) and the presence of CTNNB1 S45F mutation (p = 0.013). In the multivariate analysis, extra-abdominal DT location, CTNNB1 S45F mutation and tumor size were independent prognostic biomarkers for worse RFS. DTs harboring the CTNNB1 T41A mutation showed overexpression of DUSP1, SOCS1, EGR1, FOS, LIF, MYC, SGK1, SLC2A3, and IER3, and underexpression of BMP4, PMS2, HOXA9, and WISP1 in thoracic versus abdominal wall locations. CONCLUSION: Sporadic DT location exhibits a different prognosis in terms of RFS favoring the abdominal wall compared to extra-abdominal sites. A differential gene expression profile under the same CTNNB1 T41A mutation is observed in the abdominal wall versus the thoracic wall, mainly affecting the Wnt/ß-catenin, TGFß, IFN, and TNF pathways.

Spatial distribution of tumour immune infiltrate predicts outcomes of patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcomas after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may modify tumour immune infiltrate. This study characterized immune infiltrate spatial distribution after NAC in primary high-risk soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and investigate association with prognosis. METHODS: The ISG-STS 1001 trial randomized STS patients to anthracycline plus ifosfamide (AI) or a histology-tailored (HT) NAC. Four areas of tumour specimens were sampled: the area showing the highest lymphocyte infiltrate (HI) at H&E; the area with lack of post-treatment changes (highest grade, HG); the area with post-treatment changes (lowest grade, LG); and the tumour edge (TE). CD3, CD8, PD-1, CD20, FOXP3, and CD163 were analyzed at immunohistochemistry and digital pathology. A machine learning method was used to generate sarcoma immune index scores (SIS) that predict patient disease-free and overall survival (DFS and OS). FINDINGS: Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-1+ cells together with CD163+ cells were more represented in STS histologies with complex compared to simple karyotype, while CD20+ B-cells were detected in both these histology groups. PD-1+ cells exerted a negative prognostic value irrespectively of their spatial distribution. Enrichment in CD20+ B-cells at HI and TE areas was associated with better patient outcomes. We generated a prognostic SIS for each tumour area, having the HI-SIS the best performance. Such prognostic value was driven by treatment with AI. INTERPRETATION: The different spatial distribution of immune populations and their different association with prognosis support NAC as a modifier of tumour immune infiltrate in STS. FUNDING: Pharmamar; Italian Ministry of Health [RF-2019-12370923; GR-2016-02362609]; 5 × 1000 Funds-2016, Italian Ministry of Health; AIRC Grant [ID#28546].

CSF1R Inhibition in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors or Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor: A Phase I Study of Vimseltinib.

PURPOSE: Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a locally aggressive neoplasm caused by dysregulation of the colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) gene and overexpression of the CSF1 ligand. Surgery is the standard of care for most patients, but there are limited treatment options for patients with TGCT not amenable to surgery. This study evaluates vimseltinib, an investigational, oral, switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to selectively and potently inhibit the CSF1 receptor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This first-in-human, multicenter, open-label phase I/II study of vimseltinib in patients with malignant solid tumors (N = 37) or TGCT not amenable to surgery (N = 32) followed a pharmacologically guided 3 + 3 study design (NCT03069469). The primary objectives were to assess safety and tolerability, determine the recommended phase II dose, and characterize the pharmacokinetics; exploratory objectives included pharmacodynamics and efficacy. RESULTS: Vimseltinib was well tolerated; the majority of non-laboratory treatment-emergent adverse events were of grade 1/2 severity. There was no evidence of cholestatic hepatotoxicity or drug-induced liver injury. The recommended phase II dose was determined to be 30 mg twice weekly (no loading dose), and vimseltinib plasma exposure increased with the dose. In patients with TGCT, the median treatment duration was 25.1 months (range, 0.7-46.9), and the objective response rate as assessed by independent radiological review using RECIST version 1.1 was 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Vimseltinib demonstrated long-term tolerability, manageable safety, dose-dependent exposure, and robust antitumor activity in patients with TGCT not amenable to surgery.

Interpretable artificial intelligence to optimise use of imatinib after resection in patients with localised gastrointestinal stromal tumours: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend use of adjuvant imatinib therapy for many patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs); however, its optimal treatment duration is unknown and some patient groups do not benefit from the therapy. We aimed to apply state-of-the-art, interpretable artificial intelligence (ie, predictions or prescription logic that can be easily understood) methods on real-world data to establish which groups of patients with GISTs should receive adjuvant imatinib, its optimal treatment duration, and the benefits conferred by this therapy. METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we considered for inclusion all patients who underwent resection of primary, non-metastatic GISTs at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC; New York, NY, USA) between Oct 1, 1982, and Dec 31, 2017, and who were classified as intermediate or high risk according to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Miettinen criteria and had complete follow-up data with no missing entries. A counterfactual random forest model, which used predictors of recurrence (mitotic count, tumour size, and tumour site) and imatinib duration to infer the probability of recurrence at 7 years for a given patient under each duration of imatinib treatment, was trained in the MSKCC cohort. Optimal policy trees (OPTs), a state-of-the-art interpretable AI-based method, were used to read the counterfactual random forest model by training a decision tree with the counterfactual predictions. The OPT recommendations were externally validated in two cohorts of patients from Poland (the Polish Clinical GIST Registry), who underwent GIST resection between Dec 1, 1981, and Dec 31, 2011, and from Spain (the Spanish Group for Research in Sarcomas), who underwent resection between Oct 1, 1987, and Jan 30, 2011. FINDINGS: Among 1007 patients who underwent GIST surgery in MSKCC, 117 were included in the internal cohort; for the external cohorts, the Polish cohort comprised 363 patients and the Spanish cohort comprised 239 patients. The OPT did not recommend imatinib for patients with GISTs of gastric origin measuring less than 15·9 cm with a mitotic count of less than 11·5 mitoses per 5 mm2 or for those with small GISTs (<5·4 cm) of any site with a count of less than 11·5 mitoses per 5 mm2. In this cohort, the OPT cutoffs had a sensitivity of 92·7% (95% CI 82·4-98·0) and a specificity of 33·9% (22·3-47·0). The application of these cutoffs in the two external cohorts would have spared 38 (29%) of 131 patients in the Spanish cohort and 44 (35%) of 126 patients in the Polish cohort from unnecessary treatment with imatinib. Meanwhile, the risk of undertreating patients in these cohorts was minimal (sensitivity 95·4% [95% CI 89·5-98·5] in the Spanish cohort and 92·4% [88·3-95·4] in the Polish cohort). The OPT tested 33 different durations of imatinib treatment (<5 years) and found that 5 years of treatment conferred the most benefit. INTERPRETATION: If the identified patient subgroups were applied in clinical practice, as many as a third of the current cohort of candidates who do not benefit from adjuvant imatinib would be encouraged to not receive imatinib, subsequently avoiding unnecessary toxicity on patients and financial strain on health-care systems. Our finding that 5 years is the optimal duration of imatinib treatment could be the best source of evidence to inform clinical practice until 2028, when a randomised controlled trial with the same aims is expected to report its findings. FUNDING: National Cancer Institute.

Vimseltinib versus placebo for tenosynovial giant cell tumour (MOTION): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) is a locally aggressive neoplasm for which few systemic treatment options exist. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of vimseltinib, an oral, switch-control, CSF1R inhibitor, in patients with symptomatic TGCT not amenable to surgery. METHODS: MOTION is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial done in 35 specialised hospitals in 13 countries. Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of TGCT for which surgical resection could potentially worsen functional limitation or cause severe morbidity. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) with interactive response technology to vimseltinib (30 mg orally twice weekly) or placebo, administrated in 28-day cycles for 24 weeks. Patients and site personnel were masked to treatment assignment until week 25, unless progressive disease was confirmed earlier. The primary endpoint was objective response rate by independent radiological review using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1 (RECIST) at week 25 in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received the study drug. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05059262, and enrolment is complete. FINDINGS: Between Jan 21, 2022, and Feb 21, 2023, 123 patients were randomly assigned (83 to vimseltinib and 40 to placebo). 73 (59%) patients were female and 50 (41%) were male. Nine (11%) of 83 patients assigned to vimseltinib and five (13%) of 40 patients assigned to placebo discontinued treatment before week 25; one patient in the placebo group did not receive any study drug. Objective response rate per RECIST was 40% (33 of 83 patients) in the vimseltinib group vs 0% (none of 40) in the placebo group (difference 40% [95% CI 29-51]; p<0·0001). Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were grade 1 or 2; the only grade 3 or 4 TEAE that occurred in more than 5% of patients receiving vimseltinib was increased blood creatine phosphokinase (eight [10%] of 83). One patient in the vimseltinib group had a treatment-related serious TEAE of subcutaneous abscess. No evidence of cholestatic hepatotoxicity or drug-induced liver injury was noted. INTERPRETATION: Vimseltinib produced a significant objective response rate and clinically meaningful functional and symptomatic improvement in patients with TGCT, providing an effective treatment option for these patients. FUNDING: Deciphera Pharmaceuticals.

Radical cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of peritoneal sarcomatosis: Results from a reference center and considerations based on current evidence.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal sarcomatosis is a rare disease, with multiple histological origins and poor overall prognosis. The option of radical cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is controversial. The results of a surgical team experienced in these procedures are analyzed and discussed based on the available evidence. METHODS: Study on a prospective database of patients with peritoneal sarcomatosis who underwent CRS and HIPEC, from 2016 to 2022, in a national reference center for sarcomas and peritoneal oncological surgery, who met the established inclusion/exclusion criteria. RESULTS: 23 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 53 years (6-68). Recurrent/persistent clinical presentation predominated (78.3%). Visceral origin (including GIST and non-GIST peritoneal) accounted for 47.8% of patients, compared to 43.5% uterine and 8.7% retroperitoneal. The median PCI was 17 (3-36), with CC0 cytoreduction of 87%. Postoperative morbidity (Dindo Clavien III-IV) of 13%, with no postoperative mortality in the series. Overall survival and disease-free survival at 5 years were 64% and 34%, respectively. Histological grade was the most influential prognostic factor for survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the series, with low morbidity, support the benefit of radical peritoneal oncological surgery in patients with peritoneal sarcomatosis after adequate selection, as long as it is performed in high-volume centers, experienced surgeons and expert multidisciplinary teams. However, the role of HIPEC remains to be demonstrated and pending future studies.

HMGA1 regulates trabectedin sensitivity in advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS): A Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas (GEIS) study.

HMGA1 is a structural epigenetic chromatin factor that has been associated with tumor progression and drug resistance. Here, we reported the prognostic/predictive value of HMGA1 for trabectedin in advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) and the effect of inhibiting HMGA1 or the mTOR downstream pathway in trabectedin activity. The prognostic/predictive value of HMGA1 expression was assessed in a cohort of 301 STS patients at mRNA (n = 133) and protein level (n = 272), by HTG EdgeSeq transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The effect of HMGA1 silencing on trabectedin activity and gene expression profiling was measured in leiomyosarcoma cells. The effect of combining mTOR inhibitors with trabectedin was assessed on cell viability in vitro studies, whereas in vivo studies tested the activity of this combination. HMGA1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly associated with worse progression-free survival of trabectedin and worse overall survival in STS. HMGA1 silencing sensitized leiomyosarcoma cells for trabectedin treatment, reducing the spheroid area and increasing cell death. The downregulation of HGMA1 significantly decreased the enrichment of some specific gene sets, including the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The inhibition of mTOR, sensitized leiomyosarcoma cultures for trabectedin treatment, increasing cell death. In in vivo studies, the combination of rapamycin with trabectedin downregulated HMGA1 expression and stabilized tumor growth of 3-methylcholantrene-induced sarcoma-like models. HMGA1 is an adverse prognostic factor for trabectedin treatment in advanced STS. HMGA1 silencing increases trabectedin efficacy, in part by modulating the mTOR signaling pathway. Trabectedin plus mTOR inhibitors are active in preclinical models of sarcoma, downregulating HMGA1 expression levels and stabilizing tumor growth.

Combination treatment with PD1/PDL-1 inhibitors for sarcomas: state of the art, next questions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Only a small fraction of sarcomas exhibit recognized parameters of immune sensitivity, such as tumor mutational burden, PDL-1 expression, or microsatellite instability. Combined strategies aimed to modulate tumor microenvironment to increase the efficacy of PD1/PDL-1 inhibitors in sarcoma. Most explored prospective studies were based on combinations of PD1/PDL-1 inhibitors with antiangiogenics, other immune checkpoints, or chemotherapy. RECENT FINDINGS: Results on 6-month PFS rate, median PFS, and ORR in trials using PD1/PDL-1 inhibitors plus antiangiogenics ranged respectively as 46.9-55%, 4.7-7.8 months and 21-36.7%. In combination with other immune checkpoint inhibitors, the results of median PFS and ORR ranged from 2.8-4.1 months and 10-16%, respectively. In combination with chemotherapy, the best results were obtained with doxorubicin-based regimens compared to other agents. Duplet-based chemotherapy plus anti-PD1/PDL-1 obtained the highest ORR (56.2%) compared with doxorubicin (19-36.7%). Currently, the most robust predictive biomarker for anti-PD1/PDL-1 efficacy is the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) with mature dendritic cells. SUMMARY: Even when direct comparisons between PD1/PDL-1 inhibitor-based combinations and single agents have not been performed yet in sarcoma, some combinations appear promising. Studies controlling heterogeneity by biomarker or histotype selection contribute to an increase in efficacy or knowledge crucial for future comparative trials.

STAT6-targeting antisense oligonucleotides against solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare, non-hereditary soft tissue sarcoma thought to originate from fibroblastic mesenchymal stem cells. The etiology of SFT is thought to be due to an environmental intrachromosomal gene fusion between NGFI-A-binding protein 2 (NAB2) and signal transducer and activator protein 6 (STAT6) genes on chromosome 12, wherein the activation domain of STAT6 is fused with the DNA-binding domain of NAB2 resulting in the oncogenesis of SFT. All NAB2-STAT6 fusion variations discovered in SFTs contain the C-terminal of STAT6 transcript, and thus can serve as target site for antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)-based therapies. Indeed, our in vitro studies show the STAT6 3' untranslated region (UTR)-targeting ASO (ASO 993523) was able to reduce expression of NAB2-STAT6 fusion transcripts in multiple SFT cell models with high efficiency (half-maximal inhibitory concentration: 116-300 nM). Encouragingly, in vivo treatment of SFT patient-derived xenograft mouse models with ASO 993523 resulted in acceptable tolerability profiles, reduced expression of NAB2-STAT6 fusion transcripts in xenograft tissues (21.9%), and, importantly, reduced tumor growth (32.4% decrease in tumor volume compared with the untreated control). Taken together, our study established ASO 993523 as a potential agent for the treatment of SFTs.

Best Overall Response-Associated Signature to Doxorubicin in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Transcriptomic Analysis from ANNOUNCE.

PURPOSE: This exploratory analysis evaluated the tumor samples of the patients treated with doxorubicin (with or without olaratumab) in a negative phase III ANNOUNCE trial to better understand the complexity of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to potentially identify its predictive markers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: RNA sequencing was performed on pretreatment tumor samples (n = 273) from the ANNOUNCE trial to evaluate response patterns and identify potential predictive treatment markers for doxorubicin. A BOR-associated signature to doxorubicin (REDSARC) was created by evaluating tumors with radiographic response versus progression. An external cohort of doxorubicin-treated patients from the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas (GEIS) was used for refinement and validation. RESULTS: A total of 259 samples from the trial were considered for analysis. Comparative analyses by the treatment arm did not explain the negative trial. However, there was an association between the BOR signature and histologic subtype (χ2P = 2.0e-7) and grade (P = 0.002). There were no associations between the BOR signature and gender, age, ethnicity, or stage. Applied to survival outcomes, REDSARC was also predictive for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Using the GEIS cohort, a refined 25-gene signature was identified and applied to the ANNOUNCE cohort, where it was predictive of PFS and OS in leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, and other sarcoma subtypes, but not in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: The refined REDSARC signature provides a potential tool to direct the application of doxorubicin in sarcomas and other malignancies. Validation and further refinement of the signature in other potentially subtype specific prospective cohorts is recommended.

Circulating TNF-RII, IP-10 and HGF are associated with severity of COVID-19 in oncologic patients.

The COVID-19 patients showed hyperinflammatory response depending on the severity of the disease but little have been reported about this response in oncologic patients that also were infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sixty-five circulating cytokines/chemokines were quantified in 15 oncologic patients, just after SARS-CoV-2 infection and fourteen days later, and their levels were compared in patients who required hospitalisation by COVID-19 versus non-hospitalised patients. A higher median age of 72 years (range 61-83) in oncologic patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with hospitalisation requirement by COVID-19 versus a median age of 49 years (20-75) observed in the non-hospitalised oncologic patients (p = 0.008). Moreover, oncologic patients at metastatic stage or with lung cancer were significantly associated with hospitalisation by COVID-19 (p = 0.044). None of these hospitalised patients required ICU treatment. Higher basal levels of tumour necrosis factor receptor II (TNF-RII), interferon-γ (IFNγ)-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in plasma were significantly observed in oncologic patients who required hospitalisation by COVID-19. Higher TNF-RII, IP-10 and HGF levels after the SARS-CoV-2 infection in oncologic patients could be used as biomarkers of COVID-19 severity associated with hospitalisation requirements.

Management of patients with rare adult solid cancers: objectives and evaluation of European reference networks (ERN) EURACAN.

About 500,000 patients with rare adult solid cancers (RASC) are diagnosed yearly in Europe. Delays and unequal quality of management impact negatively their survival. Since 2017, European reference networks (ERN) aim to improve the quality of care of patients with rare disease. The steering committee of EURACAN, including physicians, researchers and patients review here the previous actions, present objectives of the ERN EURACAN dedicated to RASC. EURACAN promoted management in reference centres, and equal implementation of excellence and innovation in Europe and developed 22 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Additionally, fourteen information brochures translated in 24 EU languages were developed in collaboration with patient advocacy groups (ePAGs) and seventeen training session were organized. Nevertheless, connections to national networks in the 26 participating countries (106 centres), simplification of cross-border healthcare, international multidisciplinary tumour boards, registries and monitoring of the quality of care are still required. In this Health Policy, evaluation criteria of the performances of the network and of health care providers are proposed.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Grade Myxoid Liposarcoma: Results of the Expanded Cohort of a Randomized Trial From Italian (ISG), Spanish (GEIS), French (FSG), and Polish Sarcoma Groups (PSG).

PURPOSE: A randomized trial was conducted to compare neoadjuvant standard (S) anthracycline + ifosfamide (AI) regimen with histology-tailored (HT) regimen in selected localized high-risk soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The results of the trial demonstrated the superiority of S in all STS histologies except for high-grade myxoid liposarcoma (HG-MLPS) where S and HT appeared to be equivalent. To further evaluate the noninferiority of HT compared with S, the HG-MLPS cohort was expanded. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients had localized high-grade (cellular component >5%; size ≥5 cm; deeply seated) MLPS of extremities or trunk wall. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary end point was overall survival (OS). The trial used a noninferiority Bayesian design, wherein HT would be considered not inferior to S if the posterior probability of the true hazard ratio (HR) being >1.25 was <5%. RESULTS: From May 2011 to June 2020, 101 patients with HG-MLPS were randomly assigned, 45 to the HT arm and 56 to the S arm. The median follow-up was 66 months (IQR, 37-89). Median size was 107 mm (IQR, 84-143), 106 mm (IQR, 75-135) in the HT arm and 108 mm (IQR, 86-150) in the S arm. At 60 months, the DFS and OS probabilities were 0.86 and 0.73 (HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.24 to 1.46]; log-rank P = .26 for DFS) and 0.88 and 0.90 (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.37 to 3.93]; log-rank P = .77 for OS) in the HT and S arms, respectively. The posterior probability of HR being >1.25 for DFS met the Bayesian monitoring cutoff of <5% (4.93%). This result confirmed the noninferiority of trabectedin to AI suggested in the original study cohort. CONCLUSION: Trabectedin may be an alternative to standard AI in HG-MLPS of the extremities or trunk when neoadjuvant treatment is a consideration.

Trabectedin and low-dose radiation therapy in patients with advanced leiomyosarcoma.

Background and objectives: Dimensional response is an unmet need in second lines of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Indeed, the three approved drugs, pazopanib, trabectedin, and eribulin, achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of less than 10%. This fact potentially hinders the options for fast symptomatic relief or surgical rescue. The combination of trabectedin plus low-dose radiation therapy (T-XRT) demonstrated a response rate of 60% in phase I/II trial, while real-life data achieved 32.5% ORR, probably due to a more relaxed timing between treatments. These results were obtained in progressing and advanced STS. In this study, the merged databases (trial plus real life) have been analyzed, with a special focus on leiomyosarcoma patients. Design and methods: As responses were seen in a wide range of sarcoma histologies (11), this study planned to analyze whether leiomyosarcoma, the largest subtype with 26 cases (30.6%) in this series, exhibited a better clinical outcome with this therapeutic strategy. In addition, four advanced and progressing leiomyosarcoma patients, all with extraordinarily long progression-free survival of over 18 months, were collected. Results: A total of 847 cycles of trabectedin were administered to 85 patients, with the median number of cycles per patient being 7 (1-45+). A trend toward a longer progression-free survival (PFS) was observed in leiomyosarcoma patients with median PFS (mPFS) of 9.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-18.7] versus 5.6 months (95% CI: 3.2-7.9) for the remaining histologies, p = 0.25. When leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma were grouped, this difference reached statistical significance, probably due to the special sensitivity of myxoid liposarcoma. The mPFS for L-sarcomas was 12.7 months (95% CI: 7-18.5) versus 4.3 months (95% CI: 3.3-5.3) for the remaining histologies, p = 0.001. Cases with long-lasting disease control are detected among leiomyosarcoma patients. Conclusion: Even when extraordinarily long-lasting responses do exist among leiomyosarcoma patients treated with T-XR, we were unable to demonstrate a significant difference favoring leiomyosarcoma patients in clinical outcomes.

Delays in diagnosis and surgery of sarcoma patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain.

Background and objectives: Social distancing and quarantine implanted during the COVID-19 outbreak could have delayed the accession of oncologic patients to hospitals and treatments. This study analysed the management of sarcoma patients during this period in five Spanish hospitals. Design and methods: Clinical data from adult sarcoma patients, soft tissue and bone sarcomas, managed during the COVID-19 outbreak, from 15 March to 14 September 2020 (Covid cohort), were retrospectively collected and time for diagnosis, surgery and active treatments were compared with sarcoma patients managed during the same pre-pandemic period in 2018 (Control cohort). Results: A total of 126 and 182 new sarcoma patients were enrolled in the Covid and Control cohorts, respectively, who were mainly diagnosed as soft tissue sarcomas (81.0% and 80.8%) and at localized stage (80.2% and 79.1%). A diagnostic delay was observed in the Covid cohort with a median time for the diagnosis of 102.5 days (range 6-355) versus 83 days (range 5-328) in the Control cohort (p = 0.034). Moreover, a delay in surgery was observed in cases with localized disease from the Covid cohort with a median time of 96.0 days (range 11-265) versus 54.5 days (range 2-331) in the Control cohort (p = 0.034). However, a lower delay for neoadjuvant radiotherapy was observed in the Covid cohort with a median time from the diagnosis to the neoadjuvant radiotherapy of 47 days (range 27-105) versus 91 days (range 27-294) in the Control cohort (p = 0.039). No significant differences for adjuvant radiotherapy, neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant/adjuvant palliative chemotherapy were observed between both cohorts. Neither progression-free survival (PFS) nor overall survival (OS) was significantly different. Conclusion: Delays in diagnosis and surgery were retrospectively observed in sarcoma patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain, while the time for neoadjuvant radiotherapy was reduced. However, no impact on the PFS and OS was observed.