Underrepresentation of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma Clinical Trials within the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities exists in metastatic colorectal carcinoma (CRC) clinical trials. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Representation of vulnerable subpopulations is essential for generalizability of clinical trials. Limited studies to date have investigated racial and ethnic representation of patients enrolled in clinical trials for metastatic CRC. METHODS: ClinicalTrials.gov was queried for metastatic CRC clinical trials in the United States from 2000-2020. Incidence data were extracted from the SEER Database. Enrollment fraction (EF) was defined as number of trial participants divided by U.S. incidence of metastatic CRC in each race, ethnicity, and gender. Representation Quotient (RQ) was defined as the proportion of trial participants divided by proportion of U.S. metastatic CRC incidence for each subgroup. RESULTS: 8084 patients from 135 clinical trials were analyzed. 49.6% of clinical trials reported race data and 34.8% reported ethnicity data. Compared to 2000-2009, 2010-2019 had increased representation data reporting for race (61.2% vs. 38.8%) and ethnicity (64.6% vs. 35.4%). Of trials with race data, White patients represented 77.0%, Black patients 6.6%, Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients 16.1%, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) patients 0.2%, and Hispanic patients 6.8%. Black patients (median RQ 0.54), API patients (median RQ 0.19), AIAN patients (median RQ 0.00), and Hispanic patients (median RQ 0.26) were underrepresented. Black patients had a higher degree of underrepresentation in clinical trials with serum creatinine inclusion criteria (RQ 0.40 vs. 0.86, P=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies are needed to increase minority enrollment in clinical trials for metastatic CRC. Identification of systemic barriers is integral in public policy advocacy to increase representation.

Extrahepatic biliary neuroendocrine tumors: A national cancer database analysis.

Background: Extrahepatic biliary neuroendocrine tumors (EBNETs) are rare. We aimed to characterize EBNETs including factors associated with survival. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with EBNETs from 2004 to 2016. Patients who underwent resection were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression and the Kaplan-Meier method. We compared overall survival (OS) among patients with EBNETs to those with NETs from other primary sites. Results: Overall, 223 patients with EBNETs were identified. Patients were predominantly male (n = 113, 50.7 %), white (n = 177, 79.4 %) and presented without distant metastasis (n = 182, 81.6 %). The majority underwent operation (n = 127, 57.9 %) with resection of the primary tumor (n = 89, 70 %). Among patients who underwent resection (n = 71), multivariable regression demonstrated older age (HR 1.11, 95 % C.I. 1.04-1.17), lymph node metastases (HR 1.19, 95 % C.I. 1.02-1.38) and poorly/undifferentiated tumors [HR 22.3, 95 % C.I. 3.78-131]) were associated with worse overall survival. Patients with EBNETs experienced abbreviated OS compared to patients with small bowel or pancreas NETs (p < 0.001), but improved OS when compared to patients with gallbladder NETs (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Tumor differentiation and lymph node status significantly impact overall survival.

Molecular Characterization of Metastatic Oncocytoma With Exceptional Response to Treatment: A Case Report.

Comprehensive molecular characterization and effective therapy in a rare case of metastatic renal oncocytoma.

Hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) therapy in combination with targeted delivery of IL-12 for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a phase II trial protocol.

Background: Treatment of advanced liver tumors remains challenging. Although immune checkpoint inhibition has revolutionized treatment for many cancers, responses in colorectal liver metastases and biliary tract cancers remain suboptimal. Investigation into additional immunomodulatory therapies for these cancers is needed. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with robust anti-tumor activity, but systemic adverse effects largely terminated therapeutic development of recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12). PDS01ADC is a novel human monoclonal antibody (NHS76) conjugated to two IL-12 heterodimers with established safety in phase I trials. The NHS76 antibody specifically targets histone/DNA complexes which are accessible only in regions of cell death and this antibody has been shown to accumulate locally in tumors. Methods: Patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) or unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) will receive synchronization of subcutaneous PDS01ADC with floxuridine delivered via a hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP). The primary outcome measured in this study will be overall response rate as measured by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Secondary outcomes measured in this study will include hepatic and non-hepatic progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety of PDS01ADC combination therapy with HAIP. Discussion: Poor clinical response of these liver tumors to immunotherapy is likely due to various factors, including poor immune infiltrate into the tumor and immunosuppression by the tumor microenvironment. By exploiting the tumor cell death induced by HAIP locoregional therapy in combination with systemic chemotherapy, PDS01ADC is poised to modulate the tumor immune microenvironment to improve outcomes for patients undergoing HAIP therapy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT05286814 version 2023-10-18); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05286814?term=NCT05286814&rank=1.

Multi-parametric atlas of the pre-metastatic liver for prediction of metastatic outcome in early-stage pancreatic cancer.

Metastasis occurs frequently after resection of pancreatic cancer (PaC). In this study, we hypothesized that multi-parametric analysis of pre-metastatic liver biopsies would classify patients according to their metastatic risk, timing and organ site. Liver biopsies obtained during pancreatectomy from 49 patients with localized PaC and 19 control patients with non-cancerous pancreatic lesions were analyzed, combining metabolomic, tissue and single-cell transcriptomics and multiplex imaging approaches. Patients were followed prospectively (median 3 years) and classified into four recurrence groups; early (<6 months after resection) or late (>6 months after resection) liver metastasis (LiM); extrahepatic metastasis (EHM); and disease-free survivors (no evidence of disease (NED)). Overall, PaC livers exhibited signs of augmented inflammation compared to controls. Enrichment of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), Ki-67 upregulation and decreased liver creatine significantly distinguished those with future metastasis from NED. Patients with future LiM were characterized by scant T cell lobular infiltration, less steatosis and higher levels of citrullinated H3 compared to patients who developed EHM, who had overexpression of interferon target genes (MX1 and NR1D1) and an increase of CD11B+ natural killer (NK) cells. Upregulation of sortilin-1 and prominent NETs, together with the lack of T cells and a reduction in CD11B+ NK cells, differentiated patients with early-onset LiM from those with late-onset LiM. Liver profiles of NED closely resembled those of controls. Using the above parameters, a machine-learning-based model was developed that successfully predicted the metastatic outcome at the time of surgery with 78% accuracy. Therefore, multi-parametric profiling of liver biopsies at the time of PaC diagnosis may determine metastatic risk and organotropism and guide clinical stratification for optimal treatment selection.

Predicting Survival in Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix: Demographics, Disease Presentation, and Treatment Methodology.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix (MACA) follows a complex disease course with variable survival. Large-scale predictive modeling may determine subtle yet important prognostic factors otherwise unseen in smaller cohort analyses. METHODS: Patients with MACA were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Research Plus database (2005-2019). Primary, secondary, and tertiary outcomes were disease-specific survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), and average annual percent change (AAPC) in incidence. RESULTS: Among 4,258 included patients, MACA was most frequently diagnosed at 50 to 69 years (52.0%), with female preponderance (55.9%). MACA incidence AAPC was 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-5.9). For patients with exclusive, first-diagnosis MACA included in survival analysis (3,222 patients), median DSS and OS were 118 and 88 months, respectively. In DSS-based multivariable analysis, worse prognosis was associated with non-Hispanic Black background (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.02-1.82; p = 0.036), high grade (grade 3 HR 3.10, 95% CI 2.44-3.92; p < 0.001), lymphatic spread (HR 2.73, 95% CI 2.26-3.30; p < 0.001), and distant metastasis (HR 5.84, 95% CI 3.86-8.83; p < 0.001). In subcohort analysis of patients with rationale for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC, 2,387 patients), CRS-HIPEC was associated with survival benefit compared with surgery alone but only for moderate-grade tumors (median DSS/OS 138/138 vs. 116/87 months; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix incidence is increasing in the United States. Survival rates are affected by both demographics and classical risk factors, and CRS-HIPEC-associated survival benefit predominantly occurs in moderate-grade tumors. Further exploration of biologic and clinicopathologic features may enhance risk stratification for this disease.

Multi-omic profiling of follicular lymphoma reveals changes in tissue architecture and enhanced stromal remodeling in high-risk patients.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a generally incurable malignancy that evolves from developmentally blocked germinal center (GC) B cells. To promote survival and immune escape, tumor B cells undergo significant genetic changes and extensively remodel the lymphoid microenvironment. Dynamic interactions between tumor B cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) are hypothesized to contribute to the broad spectrum of clinical behaviors observed among FL patients. Despite the urgent need, existing clinical tools do not reliably predict disease behavior. Using a multi-modal strategy, we examined cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors governing progression and therapeutic outcomes in FL patients enrolled onto a prospective clinical trial. By leveraging the strengths of each platform, we identify several tumor-specific features and microenvironmental patterns enriched in individuals who experience early relapse, the most high-risk FL patients. These features include stromal desmoplasia and changes to the follicular growth pattern present 20 months before first progression and first relapse.

Activity of the Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme Inhibitor TAK-243 in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cell Lines, Patient-derived Organoids, and Murine Xenografts.

Current treatment options for metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) have limited efficacy, despite the common use of mitotane and cytotoxic agents. This study aimed to identify novel therapeutic options for ACC. An extensive drug screen was conducted to identify compounds with potential activity against ACC cell lines. We further investigated the mechanism of action of the identified compound, TAK-243, its synergistic effects with current ACC therapeutics, and its efficacy in ACC models including patient-derived organoids and mouse xenografts. TAK-243, a clinical ubiquitin-activating enzyme (UAE) inhibitor, showed potent activity in ACC cell lines. TAK-243 inhibited protein ubiquitination in ACC cells, leading to the accumulation of free ubiquitin, activation of the unfolded protein response, and induction of apoptosis. TAK-243 was found to be effluxed out of cells by MDR1, a drug efflux pump, and did not require Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) expression for its activity. Combination of TAK-243 with current ACC therapies (e.g., mitotane, etoposide, cisplatin) produced synergistic or additive effects. In addition, TAK-243 was highly synergistic with BCL2 inhibitors (Navitoclax and Venetoclax) in preclinical ACC models including patient-derived organoids. The tumor suppressive effects of TAK-243 and its synergistic effects with Venetoclax were further confirmed in a mouse xenograft model. These findings provide preclinical evidence to support the initiation of a clinical trial of TAK-243 in patients with advanced-stage ACC. TAK-243 is a promising potential treatment option for ACC, either as monotherapy or in combination with existing therapies or BCL2 inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE: ACC is a rare endocrine cancer with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We report that TAK-243 is active alone and in combination with currently used therapies and with BCL2 and mTOR inhibitors in ACC preclinical models. Our results suggest implementation of TAK-243 in clinical trials for patients with advanced and metastatic ACC.

Lineage and ecology define liver tumor evolution in response to treatment.

A tumor ecosystem constantly evolves over time in the face of immune predation or therapeutic intervention, resulting in treatment failure and tumor progression. Here, we present a single-cell transcriptome-based strategy to determine the evolution of longitudinal tumor biopsies from liver cancer patients by measuring cellular lineage and ecology. We construct a lineage and ecological score as joint dynamics of tumor cells and their microenvironments. Tumors may be classified into four main states in the lineage-ecological space, which are associated with clinical outcomes. Analysis of longitudinal samples reveals the evolutionary trajectory of tumors in response to treatment. We validate the lineage-ecology-based scoring system in predicting clinical outcomes using bulk transcriptomic data of additional cohorts of 716 liver cancer patients. Our study provides a framework for monitoring tumor evolution in response to therapeutic intervention.

Costs of Cancer Prevention: Physical and Psychosocial Sequelae of Risk-Reducing Total Gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: Risk-reducing surgery for cancer prevention in solid tumors is a pressing clinical topic because of the increasing availability of germline genetic testing. We examined the short- and long-term outcomes of risk-reducing total gastrectomy (RRTG) and its lesser-known impacts on health-related quality of life (QOL) in individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome. METHODS: Individuals who underwent RRTG as part of a single-institution natural history study of hereditary gastric cancers were examined. Clinicopathologic details, acute and chronic operative morbidity, and health-related QOL were assessed. Validated questionnaires were used to determine QOL scores and psycho-social-spiritual measures of healing. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six individuals underwent RRTG because of a pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline CDH1 variant between October 2017 and December 2021. Most patients (87.3%; 110/126) had pT1aN0 gastric carcinoma with signet ring cell features on final pathology. Acute (<30 days) postoperative major morbidity was low (5.6%; 7/126) and nearly all patients (98.4%) lost weight after total gastrectomy. At 2 years after gastrectomy, 94% (64/68) of patients exhibited at least one chronic complication (ie, bile reflux, dysphagia, and micronutrient deficiency). Occupation change (23.5%), divorce (3%), and alcohol dependence (1.5%) were life-altering consequences attributed to total gastrectomy by some patients. In patients with a median follow-up of 24 months, QOL scores decreased at 1 month after gastrectomy and returned to baseline by 6-12 months. CONCLUSION: RRTG is associated with life-changing adverse events that should be discussed when counseling patients with CDH1 variants about gastric cancer prevention. The risks of cancer-prevention surgery should not only be judged in the context of likelihood of death due to disease if left untreated, but also based on the real consequences of organ removal.

Genome-wide profiling of transcription factor activity in primary liver cancer using single-cell ATAC sequencing.

Primary liver cancer (PLC) consists of two main histological subtypes; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). The role of transcription factors (TFs) in malignant hepatobiliary lineage commitment between HCC and iCCA remains underexplored. Here, we present genome-wide profiling of transcription regulatory elements of 16 PLC patients using single-cell assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing. Single-cell open chromatin profiles reflect the compositional diversity of liver cancer, identifying both malignant and microenvironment component cells. TF motif enrichment levels of 31 TFs strongly discriminate HCC from iCCA tumors. These TFs are members of the nuclear/retinoid receptor, POU, or ETS motif families. POU factors are associated with prognostic features in iCCA. Overall, nuclear receptors, ETS and POU TF motif families delineate transcription regulation between HCC and iCCA tumors, which may be relevant to development and selection of PLC subtype-specific therapeutics.

Protocol for isolation of signet ring cells from human gastric mucosa.

More than 90% of individuals with germline pathogenic CDH1 variants will harbor occult, microscopic foci of signet ring cell carcinomas capable of progressing to advanced diffuse-type gastric cancer. Here, we present a protocol for high viability suspension of signet ring cells from human gastric tissue. We describe the steps for gastric mucosa isolation and tissue dissociation. We then detail procedures for embedding cells into HistoGel for immunohistochemistry staining and additional applications such as flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing.

Early Immune Changes Support Signet Ring Cell Dormancy in CDH1-Driven Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Carcinogenesis.

Stage IA gastric adenocarcinoma, characterized by foci of intramucosal signet ring cells (SRC), is found in nearly all asymptomatic patients with germline pathogenic CDH1 variants and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome (HDGC). The molecular steps involved in initiating malignant transformation and promoting SRC dormancy in HDGC are unknown. Here, whole-exome bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of SRCs and adjacent non-SRC epithelium (NEP) was performed on laser-capture microdissected (LCM) regions of interest found in risk-reducing total gastrectomy specimens from patients with HDGC (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03030404). In total, 20 patients (6 male, 14 female) with confirmed HDGC were identified. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEG) demonstrated upregulation of certain individual EMT and proliferation genes. However, no oncogenic pathways were found to be upregulated in SRCs. Rather, SRC regions had significant enrichment in pathways involved in T-cell signaling. CIBERSORTx predicted significant increases in the presence of regulatory T cells (Treg) specific to SRC regions. IHC confirmed an increase in FOXP3+ cells in SRC foci, as well as elevations in CD4+ T cells and HLA-DR staining. In summary, the tumor immune microenvironment is microscopically inseparable from stage IA gastric SRCs using a granular isolation technique. An elevation in CD4+ T cells within SRC regions correlates with clinically observed SRC dormancy, while Treg upregulation represents a potential immune escape mechanism. IMPLICATIONS: Characterization of the tumor-immune microenvironment in HDGC underscores the potential for the immune system to shape the transcriptional profile of the earliest tumors, which suggests immune-directed therapy as a potential cancer interception strategy in diffuse-type gastric cancer.

Preclinical Models of Adrenocortical Cancer.

Adrenocortical cancer is an aggressive endocrine malignancy with an incidence of 0.72 to 1.02 per million people/year, and a very poor prognosis with a five-year survival rate of 22%. As an orphan disease, clinical data are scarce, meaning that drug development and mechanistic research depend especially on preclinical models. While a single human ACC cell line was available for the last three decades, over the last five years, many new in vitro and in vivo preclinical models have been generated. Herein, we review both in vitro (cell lines, spheroids, and organoids) and in vivo (xenograft and genetically engineered mouse) models. Striking leaps have been made in terms of the preclinical models of ACC, and there are now several modern models available publicly and in repositories for research in this area.