Sunitinib in Patients With Breast Cancer With FGFR1 or FGFR2 Amplifications or Mutations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study is a phase II basket trial evaluating the antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancer and genomic alterations known to be drug targets. Results from cohorts of patients with metastatic breast cancer (BC) with FGFR1 and FGFR2 alterations treated with sunitinib are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, and no standard treatment options. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary end point of disease control (DC), defined as objective response (OR) or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration (SD16+) according to RECIST v1.1. Secondary end points included OR, progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, duration of stable disease, and safety. RESULTS: Forty patients with BC with FGFR1 (N = 30; amplification only n = 26, mutation only n = 1, both n = 3) or FGFR2 (N = 10; amplification only n = 2, mutation only n = 6, both n = 2) alterations were enrolled. Three patients in the FGFR1 cohort were not evaluable for efficacy; all patients in the FGFR2 cohort were evaluable. For the FGFR1 cohort, two patients with partial response and four with SD16+ were observed for DC and OR rates of 27% (90% CI, 13 to 100) and 7% (95% CI, 1 to 24), respectively. The null hypothesis of 15% DC rate was not rejected (P = .169). No patients achieved DC in the FGFR2 cohort (P = 1.00). Thirteen of the 40 total patients across both cohorts had at least one grade 3-4 adverse event or serious adverse event at least possibly related to sunitinib. CONCLUSION: Sunitinib did not meet prespecified criteria to declare a signal of antitumor activity in patients with BC with either FGFR1 or FGFR2 alterations. Other treatments and clinical trials should be considered for these patient populations.

Cobimetinib Plus Vemurafenib in Patients With Solid Tumors With BRAF Mutations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study is a phase II basket study evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers with genomic alterations known to be drug targets. The results in a cohort of patients with solid tumors with BRAF mutations treated with cobimetinib plus vemurafenib are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable disease (RECIST v.1.1), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, and no standard treatment options. The primary end point was disease control (DC), defined as complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) or stable disease of at least 16-weeks duration (SD16+). Low-accruing histology-specific cohorts with BRAF mutations treated with cobimetinib plus vemurafenib were collapsed into a single histology-pooled cohort for this analysis. The results were evaluated on the basis of a one-sided exact binomial test with a null DC rate of 15% versus 35% (power, .82; α, .10). The secondary end points were objective response (OR), progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, duration of stable disease, and safety. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with solid tumors with BRAF mutations were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients were evaluable for efficacy. Patients had tumors with BRAF V600E (n = 26), K601E (n = 2), or other (n = 3) mutations. Two patients with CR (breast and ovarian cancers; V600E), 14 with PR (13 V600E, one N581I), and three with SD16+ (two V600E, one T599_V600insT) were observed with a DC rate of 68% (P < .0001; one-sided 90% CI, 54 to 100) and an OR rate of 57% (95% CI, 37 to 76). Nineteen patients experienced ≥one drug-related grade 3-5 adverse event or serious adverse event including one death attributed to treatment-related kidney injury. CONCLUSION: Cobimetinib plus vemurafenib showed antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors with BRAF V600E mutations; additional study is warranted to confirm the antitumor activity in tumors with non-V600E BRAF mutations.

Pembrolizumab in Patients With Tumors With High Tumor Mutational Burden: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study is a pragmatic basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of approved targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations. Data from cohorts of patients with high tumor mutational burden (HTMB, defined as ≥9 mutations per megabase) with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and other advanced cancers treated with pembrolizumab are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients were 18 years and older with measurable tumors and a lack of standard treatment options, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and adequate organ function. The primary end point was disease control (DC), defined as complete or partial response or stable disease (SD) of at least 16-weeks duration. For the CRC cohort, Simon's two-stage design with a null DC rate of 15% versus 35% (power = 0.85; α = .10) was used. Low accruing histology-specific cohorts were collapsed into one histology-pooled (HP) cohort. For the HP cohort, the null hypothesis of a DC rate of 15% was rejected if the lower limit of a one-sided 90% CI was >15%. Secondary end points included objective response (OR), safety, progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, and duration of SD. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with HTMB with CRC (n = 28) or advanced cancers (n = 49) were treated with pembrolizumab. For the CRC cohort, the DC rate was 31% (P = .04) and the OR rate was 11%. For the HP cohort, the DC rate was 45% (one-sided 90% CI, 35 to 100) and the OR rate was 26%. The null hypothesis of a 15% DC rate was rejected for both cohorts. Twelve of 77 patients experienced treatment-related grade 3 adverse events (AEs) or serious AEs, including two deaths. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab demonstrated antitumor activity in pretreated patients with advanced cancers and HTMB.

Pertuzumab Plus Trastuzumab in Patients With Lung Cancer With ERBB2 Mutation or Amplification: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study is a pragmatic basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations. Data from a cohort of patients with lung cancer and ERBB2 mutation or amplification treated with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab (P + T) are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had advanced lung cancer of any histology, no standard treatment options, measurable disease (RECIST v1.1), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, and tumors with ERBB2 mutation or amplification. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary end point of disease control (DC), defined as objective response (OR) per RECIST v. 1.1 or stable disease (SD) of at least 16 weeks duration (SD16+). Secondary end points included safety, duration of response, duration of SD, progression-free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with lung cancer (27 non-small-cell, 1 small-cell) and ERBB2 mutation (n = 15), ERBB2 amplification (n = 12), or both (n = 1) were enrolled from November 2016 to July 2020. All patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. Three patients with partial response (two ERBB2 mutation; one both mutation and amplification) and seven patients with SD16+ (five ERBB2 mutation; two amplification) were observed for a DC rate of 37% (95% CI, 21 to 50; P = .005) and OR rate of 11% (95% CI, 2 to 28). Five patients had one or more grade 3 or 4 adverse or serious adverse events at least possibly related to P + T. CONCLUSION: Combination P + T showed evidence of antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and ERBB2 mutation or amplification, particularly those with ERBB2 exon 20 insertion mutations.

Pertuzumab Plus Trastuzumab in Patients With Endometrial Cancer With ERBB2/3 Amplification, Overexpression, or Mutation: Results From the TAPUR Study.

PURPOSE: The TAPUR Study is a pragmatic basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations. Data from a cohort of patients with endometrial cancer (EC) with ERBB2 or ERBB3 (ERBB2/3) amplification, overexpression, or mutation treated with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab (P + T) are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had advanced EC, no standard treatment options, measurable disease (RECIST v1.1), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, and tumors with ERBB2/3 amplification, overexpression, or mutation. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary end point of disease control (DC), defined as objective response (OR) or stable disease (SD) of at least 16 weeks (SD16+) duration. Secondary end points include safety, duration of response, duration of SD, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled from March 2017 to November 2019; all patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. Seventeen patients had tumors with ERBB2/3 amplification and/or overexpression, eight with both ERBB2 amplification and ERBB2/3 mutations, and three with only ERBB2 mutations. Ten patients had DC (two partial response and eight SD16+); all 10 had ERBB2 amplification, and 6 of the 10 patients with DC had >1 ERBB2/3 alteration. DC and OR rates were 37% (95% CI, 21 to 50) and 7% (95% CI, 1 to 24), respectively; the median PFS and median OS were 16 weeks (95% CI, 10-28) and 61 weeks (95% CI, 24-105), respectively. One patient experienced a grade 3 serious adverse event (muscle weakness) at least possibly related to P + T. CONCLUSION: P + T has antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with EC with ERBB2 amplification and warrants additional study.

Cobimetinib Plus Vemurafenib in Patients With Colorectal Cancer With BRAF Mutations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study.

PURPOSE: TAPUR is a phase II basket trial evaluating the antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancer and genomic alterations known to be drug targets. The results of a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with BRAF mutations treated with cobimetinib (C) plus vemurafenib (V) are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had advanced CRC, no standard treatment options, measurable disease (RECIST), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, tumors with BRAF V600E/D/K/R mutations, and no MAP2K1/2, MEK1/2, or NRAS mutations. C was taken 60 mg orally once daily for 21 days followed by seven days off, and V was taken 960 mg orally twice daily. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary study end point of objective response or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration. Secondary end points were progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled from August 2016 to August 2018; all had CRC with a BRAF V600E mutation except one patient with a BRAF K601E mutation. Three patients were not evaluable for efficacy. Eight patients with partial responses and six patients with stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration were observed for disease control and objective response rates of 52% (95% CI, 35 to 65) and 30% (95% CI, 14 to 50), respectively. The null hypothesis of 15% disease control rate was rejected (P < .0001). Thirteen patients had at least one grade 3 adverse event or serious adverse event at least possibly related to C + V: anemia, decreased lymphocytes, dyspnea, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, fatigue, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, rash, photosensitivity, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The combination of C + V has antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with CRC with BRAF mutations.

Pertuzumab Plus Trastuzumab in Patients With Colorectal Cancer With ERBB2 Amplification or ERBB2/3 Mutations: Results From the TAPUR Study.

PURPOSE: The TAPUR Study is a pragmatic phase II basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations. Data from two cohorts of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with either ERBB2 amplifications or ERBB2 or ERBB3 (ERBB2/3) mutations treated with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab (P + T) are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients with measurable CRC were selected for treatment with P + T according to protocol-specified genomic matching rules. Patients had no remaining standard treatment options, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, and adequate organ function. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary study end point of disease control (DC; objective response [OR] or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration [SD16+]). Secondary end points include safety, response duration, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with CRC with ERBB2 amplification (N = 28) or ERBB2/3 mutations (N = 10) were treated with P + T. For the ERBB2 amplification cohort, DC and OR were observed in 54% and 25% of patients, respectively; the median PFS and median OS (95% CIs) were 17.2 (11.1 to 27.4) weeks and 60.0 (32.1 to 102.3) weeks, respectively. For the ERBB2/3 mutation cohort, DC and OR were observed in 10% and 0% of patients, respectively; the median PFS and median OS were 9.6 (5.1 to 16.0) weeks and 28.8 (7.6 to 146.3) weeks, respectively. Four of 38 patients experienced grade 3 adverse events or serious adverse events including anemia, infusion reaction, diarrhea, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and decreased lymphocyte count. CONCLUSION: Although P + T treatment does not appear to have antitumor activity in CRC with ERBB2/3 mutations, this combination has antitumor activity in patients with CRC with ERBB2 amplification and warrants further study.

Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer With High Tumor Mutational Burden: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study.

PURPOSE: The TAPUR Study is a phase II basket trial that aims to identify signals of antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring genomic alterations known to be drug targets. Results in a cohort of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) with high tumor mutational burden (HTMB) treated with pembrolizumab are reported. METHODS: Patients with advanced mBC received standard doses of either 2 mg/kg or 200 mg infusions of pembrolizumab every 3 weeks. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary study end point of disease control (DC) defined as objective response or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration. If two or more patients in stage I achieved DC, the cohort would enroll 18 additional patients in stage II. Secondary end points include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled from October 2016 to July 2018. All patients' tumors had HTMB ranging from 9 to 37 mutations/megabase. DC and objective response were noted in 37% (95% CI, 21 to 50) and 21% of patients (95% CI, 8 to 41), respectively. Median PFS was 10.6 weeks (95% CI, 7.7 to 21.1); median overall survival was 30.6 weeks (95% CI, 18.3 to 103.3). No relationship was observed between PFS and tumor mutational burden. Five patients experienced ≥ 1 serious adverse event or grade 3 adverse event at least possibly related to pembrolizumab consistent with the product label. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab monotherapy has antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with mBC characterized by HTMB. Our findings support the recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of pembrolizumab for treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with HTMB without alternative treatment options.

Sunitinib in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) with FLT-3 Amplification: Results from the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study.

BACKGROUND: TAPUR is a pragmatic, phase II basket study evaluating the antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring genomic alterations known to be drug targets. Sunitinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT-3), among other targets. Results from a cohort of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with FLT-3 amplification treated with sunitinib are reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether patients with mCRC with FLT-3 amplification would be responsive to sunitinib, an oral multikinase inhibitor. METHODS: Eligible patients received a standard sunitinib dose of 50 mg orally for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off. Simon's two-stage design was used with the primary study endpoint of objective response (OR) or stable disease (SD) at 16 weeks based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled from November 2016 to April 2018. All patients had mCRC with FLT-3 amplification. No ORs were observed. Although two patients had SD at 16 weeks, one died because of disease progression shortly thereafter and the cohort was closed. A single grade 3 adverse event of diarrhea was reported as possibly related to sunitinib. CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy with sunitinib does not have clinical activity in patients with mCRC with FLT-3 amplification and should not be prescribed for off-label use. Other treatments should be considered for these patients, including treatments offered in clinical trials. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02693535 (26 February 2016).

Palbociclib in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With CDKN2A Alterations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study is a phase II pragmatic basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancer with genomic alterations known to be drug targets. Results in a cohort of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with CDKN2A alterations treated with palbociclib are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old with advanced NSCLC, no remaining standard treatment options, measurable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2, and adequate organ function. Patients with NSCLC with CDKN2A alterations and no Rb mutations received palbociclib 125 mg orally once daily for 21 days, followed by 7 days off. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary study end point of objective response or stable disease (SD) of at least 16 weeks in duration. Secondary end points are progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were enrolled from January 2017 to June 2018; two patients were not evaluable for response but were included in safety analyses. One patient with partial response and six patients with SD were observed, for a disease control rate of 31% (90% CI, 19% to 40%). Median PFS was 8.1 weeks (95% CI, 7.1 to 16.0 weeks), and median OS was 21.6 weeks (95% CI, 14.1 to 41.1 weeks). Eleven patients had at least 1 grade 3 or 4 adverse event (AE) or serious AE (SAE) possibly related to palbociclib (most common, cytopenias). Other AEs or SAEs possibly related to the treatment included anorexia, fatigue, febrile neutropenia, hypophosphatemia, sepsis, and vomiting. CONCLUSION: Palbociclib monotherapy demonstrated evidence of modest antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with NSCLC with CDKN2A alterations. Additional investigation is necessary to confirm efficacy and utility of palbociclib in this population.

Palbociclib in Patients With Pancreatic and Biliary Cancer With CDKN2A Alterations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study identifies signals of antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers that harbor genomic alterations known as drug targets. In this article, data from two cohorts of patients with pancreatic and biliary cancers with CDKN2A loss or mutation treated with palbociclib are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients age 12 years and older with advanced measurable or evaluable solid tumors are provided treatment according to protocol-specified genomic matching rules. The primary study end point is objective response or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration. For each cohort, a Simon two-stage design was used with a futility evaluation after 10 patients. Secondary end points include safety, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Between July 2016 and November 2017, 12 and 10 patients with pancreatic and biliary cancer, respectively, with CDKN2A loss or mutation were treated with palbociclib. Twenty evaluable patients (10 per cohort) were included in the analysis. No patients had objective response or stable disease at 16 weeks, and both cohorts were closed. Two patients, neither with response, were determined to be ineligible. All patients were evaluated for safety, PFS, and OS. A median PFS of 7.2 weeks (90% CI, 4.0 to 8.0 weeks) and median OS of 12.4 weeks (90% CI, 4.7 to 23.1 weeks) were observed in the pancreatic cohort. A median PFS of 7.3 weeks (90% CI, 3.9 to 7.9 weeks) and median OS of 11.1 weeks (90% CI, 5.1 to 14.0 weeks) were observed in the biliary cohort. No unexpected toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION: Palbociclib monotherapy does not have clinical activity in patients with advanced pancreatic or biliary cancers with CDKN2A loss or mutation. Toxicity is similar to reported experience with palbociclib in other tumor types.

Survival of patients with de-novo metastatic breast cancer: analysis of data from a large breast cancer-specific private practice, a university-based cancer center and review of the literature.

Approximately 6 % of patients with breast cancer are diagnosed with de-novo distant metastases. We set out to look at two cohorts of patients seen at breast cancer-specific practices, compare the results to other reports and larger databases, and see how advances in treatment have impacted overall survival (OS). The records from a large breast cancer oncology private practice and a second data set from the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (UM/SCCC) tumor database were, retrospectively, reviewed to identify patients with de-novo metastases. We included those patients identified to have metastatic disease within 3 months of diagnosis of a breast primary cancer. Patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2006 were chosen for our study population. The OS for the private practice was 41.0 months (46.0 for ER positive and 26.0 for ER negative) and 36.0 months for UM/SCCC (52 months for ER positive and 36 months for ER negative). ER negativity and CNS- or visceral-dominant disease were associated with a significantly worse prognosis within the private practice. Dominant site was associated with a significantly worse prognosis within the UM/SCCC database but with a trend also for ER negativity. Age and ethnicity did not contribute significantly to the survival of patients within either cohort. The median survival in both cohorts and most other reported series was larger than that seen in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program and the National Cancer Database. The median OS among patients with de-novo metastatic breast cancer treated within two breast-specific oncology practices was over 3 years, which appears better than larger, more inclusive databases and publications from earlier decades.

Defining the survival benchmark for breast cancer patients with systemic relapse.

BACKGROUND: Our original paper, published in 1992, reported a median overall survival after first relapse in breast cancer of 26 months. The current retrospective review concentrates more specifically on patients with first systemic relapse, recognizing that subsets of patients with local recurrence are potentially curable. METHODS: Records of 5,168 patients from a largely breast-cancer-specific oncology practice were reviewed to identify breast cancer patients with their first relapse between 1996 and 2006 after primary treatment. There were 189 patients diagnosed with metastatic disease within 2 months of being seen by our therapeutic team and 101 patients diagnosed with metastatic disease greater than 2 months. The patients were divided in order to account for lead-time bias than could potentially confound the analysis of the latter 101 patients. RESULTS: Median survival for our primary study population of 189 patients was 33 months. As expected, the median survival from first systemic relapse (MSFSR) for the 101 patients excluded because of the potential for lead-time bias was better at 46 months. Factors influencing prognosis included estrogen receptor (ER) status, disease-free interval (DFI), and dominant site of metastasis. Compared with our original series, even with elimination of local-regional recurrences in our present series, the median survival from first relapse has improved by 7 months over the past two decades. CONCLUSION: The new benchmark for MSFSR approaches 3 years.

Improved clinical outcomes associated with vitamin D supplementation during adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with HER2+ nonmetastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has pleiotropic effects that extend beyond their impact on bone health, including the disruption of downstream VD receptor signaling and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) signaling through the ErbB2/AKT/ERK pathway. In the present study, we examined our institutional experience with patients having nonmetastatic HER2-positive (HER(+)) breast cancer and hypothesized that those patients who received VD supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy would have improved long-term outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients (n = 308) given trastuzumab-based chemotherapy between 2006 and 2012 at the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (UM/SCCC). We identified 2 groups of patients for comparison-those who received VD supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 134) and those who did not (n = 112). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were fitted to overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: More than half of the patients received VD during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (54.5%), with 60% receiving a dose < 10,000 units/wk and 33.3% having a VD deficiency at the start of therapy. In our final multivariate model, VD use was associated with improved DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.88; P = .026], whereas larger tumor size was associated with worse DFS (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.06-11.66; P = .04). There were no differences in OS based on any of the categories, including VD use, tumor size, number of metastatic lymph nodes, age at diagnosis, or lymphovascular invasion (LVI). CONCLUSION: VD supplementation in patients with nonmetastatic HER2(+) breast cancer is associated with improved DFS.

Is the Improved Efficacy of Trastuzumab and Lapatinib Combination Worth the Added Toxicity? A Discussion of Current Evidence, Recommendations, and Ethical Issues Regarding Dual HER2-Targeted Therapy.

Following FDA approval of trastuzumab in 1998 and lapatinib in 2007, several clinical studies have addressed the question of whether trastuzumab and lapatinib combination therapy is better than trastuzumab alone in the metastatic breast cancer and neoadjuvant setting. In this review, updated to September 2012, we focus on the relevant clinical trials that address this question and, based on the available data, reach conclusions regarding a rational and reasonably individualized approach to the management of HER2+ breast cancer. With the FDA approval of pertuzumab in June 2012 and the likely approval of T-DM1 approaching, several ethical issues overshadow the excitement oncologists have for these new treatment options. We discuss the potential evolution of highly active anti-HER2 therapy (HAAHT) as an optimal treatment paradigm for HER2+ breast cancer. Additionally, we review lessons learned from the evolution of HAART for HIV treatment.

Dual HER2-targeted approaches in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Approximately 15-20% of all breast cancers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, with clinical studies having validated the HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase pathway as an important therapeutic target. Presently, two HER2-targeted therapies are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer: the HER2-targeted humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib. Despite use of these HER2-targeted agents, many patients still experience disease progression. For this reason, numerous new agents and therapeutic strategies are under investigation. Based on preclinical data suggesting synergistic effects from dual therapy targeting HER2, clinical trials that test the effects of combining anti-HER2 agents have been conducted and are ongoing. Here, we review recently presented data from several clinical trials, which indicate that the strategy of combining HER2 blockade therapies can offer greater clinical efficacy, with adverse effects of varying degrees. Specifically, we review new data reported at the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS 2010), including the phase II NeoSphere and phase III NeoALTTO clinical trials, and data from three clinical trials reported at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2011) meeting. Together these trials elucidate the potential role of combining trastuzumab with lapatinib or pertuzumab. We also discuss additional ongoing studies that will help further define the role of dual HER2 blockade therapies and its impact on clinical practice.

Danazol therapy combined with intermittent application of chemotherapy induces lasting remission in myeloproliferative disorder (MPD): an alternative for the elderly with advanced MPD.

There is no good alternative therapy available for elderly patients with advanced myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) who failed on conventional therapies and are not candidates for bone marrow transplant. We report here an effective therapy that induced exceptionally long-lasting remissions and improved quality of life. Eighteen elderly patients (mean age: 70·6 years) (16 myelofibrosis and 2 thrombocythemia) who had failed on conventional therapies were treated. Danazol was administered daily at 200-800 mg throughout the study. Chemotherapy was applied intermittently as needed to reduce spleen size and blood counts. Busulfan (2-4 mg/day) was used most often and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) (50-100 mg/day) and/or cytarabine (100-200 mg/m(2)) if the white blood cell (WBC) count rose rapidly. When MPD stabilized, chemotherapy was discontinued and dosage of danazol was reduced. Therapy was well tolerated. Overall, 61% of patients responded with unexpectedly long-lasting remissions and improved quality of life. Three (17%) had excellent (E) response, defined by normalization of blood counts and non-palpable spleen, while eight (44%) had good (G) response, defined by rise of Hct by ≥7% and ≥50% reduction of spleen. Mean duration of remission was 45 months (10-78 months) in E responders and 11 months in G responders (2-22 months). This regimen offers a safe and effective alternative for advanced MPD in the elderly.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and severe ITP.

INTRODUCTION: Platelets play an important role in inflammatory and immune responses. We report interstitial lung disease (ILD) developing during the acute phase of severe thrombocytopenia in 3 patients with severe refractory ITP. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 3 cases with severe ITP who developed ILD in the course of refractory chronic ITP. The thrombocytopenia was severe in all cases. ILD was an incidental finding at the presentation and often misdiagnosed as lung infections. ILD was documented by lung biopsy in cases 1 and 2, supplemented by serial chest X-rays and/or CAT scan. As the ITP improved, ILD regressed in case 1, persisted in case 2, and progressed to advanced pulmonary fibrosis in case 3. CONCLUSION: We report an association of ILD with severe refractory ITP. ILD was detected in acute phase of platelet destruction, suggesting that platelet destruction may have triggered inflammation in the lung, leading to ILD.

Platelet activation in Helicobacter pylori-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: eradication reduces platelet activation but seldom improves platelet counts.

INTRODUCTION: It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori eradication often increases platelet counts in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In addition, H. pylori has been shown to induce platelet activation (CD62p or P-selectin expression) in previous studies. We assessed the response of platelet count and CD62p expression after eradication therapy in patients with ITP and H. pylori infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 15 ITP patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection by serology and breath test. A follow-up breath test was used to document eradication. Two out of 15 patients showed improvement in platelet counts after 6 months, 1 of which may have had drug-induced thrombocytopenia. Overall, certain platelet response rate in our series was 6.7% (1/15). We found that platelet CD62p expression by flow cytometry was elevated in 10/15 (66.7%) H. pylori-infected patients, which is a statistically significant difference when compared with 3/33 (9.1%) control ITP patients seronegative for H. pylori (p = 0.002). In addition, eradication therapy decreased CD62p expression (p = 0.04). However, reduction in platelet activation was not associated with an increase in platelet counts (mean 72.4 x 10(9)/l before and 68.7 after therapy; p = 0.4). CONCLUSION: In our series, platelet activation was common in ITP patients with H. pylori, and eradication therapy decreased platelet activation but seldom increased platelet counts. Increased platelet CD62p expression is a putative link between chronic infections and atherosclerosis, but further study is needed to clarify the implications of our observation.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are associated with anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), a thrombotic disorder, but they are also frequently detected in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder. To investigate possible differences of APLA between these two disorders, we assayed IgG and IgM APLA by ELISA in 21 patients with ITP and 33 with APS. The APLA reacting against two protein target antigens, beta(2)-glycoprotein 1 (beta2GP1) and FVII/VIIa, and four phospholipids [cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)] as well as lupus anticoagulant (LA) were analyzed. We made the following observations: (i) IgG and IgM antibodies to beta2GP1 and IgM antibodies to FVII/VIIa were more common in APS than ITP, P < 0.05, while IgG antibodies against the phospholipids (aCL, aPC, aPS, aPE) were more common in ITP than APS, P < 0.05; (ii) multiple APLA > or =3 antigens) were more frequent in APS than ITP, P < 0.05; (iii) LA was frequently associated with APS but was absent in ITP; (iv) APLA is quite common in ITP: two-thirds were positive for at least one APLA. In summary, APLA are prevalent in ITP but their profile differs from APS. In APS, antibodies were predominantly against beta2GP1 and 80% had positive LA, while in ITP the APLA reacted most often with the phospholipids without LA. The difference in APLA may result in opposite clinical manifestations in two disorders.