Project description:BackgroundThe COXEN gene expression model was evaluated for prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).ObjectiveTo conduct a secondary analysis of the association of each COXEN score with event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) and by treatment arm.Design, setting, and participantsThis was a randomized phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) or dose-dense methotrexate-vinblastine-adriamycin-cisplatin (ddMVAC) in MIBC.InterventionPatients were randomized to ddMVAC (every 14 d) or GC (every 21 d), both for four cycles.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisEFS events were defined as progression or death before scheduled surgery, a decision to not undergo surgery, recurrence, or death due to any cause after surgery. Cox regression was used to evaluate the COXEN score or treatment arm association with EFS and OS.Results and limitationsA total of 167 evaluable patients were included in the COXEN analysis. The COXEN scores were not significantly prognostic for OS or EFS in the respective arms, but the GC COXEN score had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.99; p = 0.047) when the arms were pooled. In the intent-to-treat analysis (n = 227), there was no significant difference between ddMVAC and GC for OS (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.54-1.40; p = 0.57) or EFS (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.59-1.26; p = 0.45). Among the 192 patients who underwent surgery, pathologic response (pT0 vs downstaging vs no response) was strongly correlated with superior postsurgical survival (5-yr OS 90%, 89% and 52%, respectively).ConclusionsThe COXEN GC score has prognostic value for patients receiving cisplatin-based neoadjuvant treatment. The randomized, prospective design provides estimates of OS and EFS for GC and ddMVAC in this population. Pathologic response (<pT2) performed well as an intermediate endpoint in this modern cohort. For expediency in evaluating new regimens, pathologic response should continue to be used in phase 2 trials.Patient summaryIn this study, we evaluated a biomarker to predict the response to chemotherapy. The results did not meet the preset study parameters, but our study provides information on clinical outcomes with the use of chemotherapy before surgery for bladder cancer.
Project description:BackgroundNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard of care in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, treatment is intense, and the overall benefit is small, necessitating effective biomarkers to identify patients who will benefit most.ObjectiveTo characterize cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation in patients receiving NAC in SWOG S1314, a prospective cooperative group trial, and to correlate the methylation signatures with pathologic response at radical cystectomy.Design, setting, and participantsSWOG S1314 is a prospective cooperative group trial for patients with MIBC (cT2-T4aN0M0, ≥5 mm of viable tumor), with a primary objective of evaluating the coexpression extrapolation (COXEN) gene expression signature as a predictor of NAC response, defined as achieving pT0N0 or ≤pT1N0 at radical cystectomy. For the current exploratory analysis, blood samples were collected prospectively from 72 patients in S1314 before and during NAC, and plasma cfDNA methylation was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip array.InterventionNo additional interventions besides plasma collection.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisDifferential methylation between pathologic responders (≤pT1N0) and nonresponders was analyzed, and a classifier predictive of treatment response was generated using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm.Results and limitationsUsing prechemotherapy plasma cfDNA, we developed a methylation-based response score (mR-score) predictive of pathologic response. Plasma samples collected after the first cycle of NAC yielded mR-scores with similar predictive ability. Furthermore, we used cfDNA methylation data to calculate the circulating bladder DNA fraction, which had a modest but independent predictive ability for treatment response. In a model combining mR-score and circulating bladder DNA fraction, we correctly predicted pathologic response in 79% of patients based on their plasma collected at baseline and after one cycle of chemotherapy. Limitations of this study included a limited sample size and relatively low circulating bladder DNA levels.ConclusionsOur study provides the proof of concept that cfDNA methylation can be used to generate classifiers of NAC response in bladder cancer patients.Patient summaryIn this exploratory analysis of S1314, we demonstrated that cell-free DNA methylation can be profiled to generate biomarker signatures associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy response. With validation in additional cohorts, this minimally invasive approach may be used to predict chemotherapy response in locally advanced bladder cancer and perhaps also in metastatic disease.
Project description:PurposeDose-dense methotrexate-vinblastine-adriamycin-cisplatin (ddMVAC) and gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) are accepted neoadjuvant regimens for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to validate the score from a coexpression extrapolation (COXEN) algorithm-generated gene expression model (GEM) as a biomarker in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.Patients and methodsEligibility included cT2-T4a N0 M0, urothelial bladder cancer, ≥ 5 mm of viable tumor, cisplatin eligible, with plan for cystectomy; 237 patients were randomized between ddMVAC, given every 14 days for four cycles, and GC, given every 21 days for four cycles. The primary objective assessed prespecified dichotomous treatment-specific COXEN score as predictive of pT0 rate or ≤ pT1 (downstaging) at surgery.ResultsAmong 167 evaluable patients, the OR for pT0 with the GC GEM score in GC-treated patients was 2.63 [P = 0.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82-8.36]; for the ddMVAC COXEN GEM score with ddMVAC treatment, the OR was 1.12 (P = 0.82, 95% CI, 0.42-2.95). The GC GEM score was applied to pooled arms (GC and ddMVAC) for downstaging with an OR of 2.33 (P = 0.02; 95% CI, 1.11-4.89). In an intention-to-treat analysis of eligible patients (n = 227), pT0 rates for ddMVAC and GC were 28% and 30% (P = 0.75); downstaging was 47% and 40% (P = 0.27), respectively.ConclusionsTreatment-specific COXEN scores were not significantly predictive for response to individual chemotherapy treatment. The COXEN GEM GC score was significantly associated with downstaging in the pooled arms. Additional biomarker development is planned.
Project description:SWOG1314 is a randomized phase II study of co-expression extrapolation (COXEN) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for localized, muscle-invasive bladder cancer. COXEN is a biomarker approach in which predictive biomarkers are developed using in vitro data, which may then be applied directly into a clinical testing application. Two separate Gene Expression Models (GEMs), one for the Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin (MVAC) regimen and another for gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) were tested in S1314. The lessons learned from the development and operationalization of the S1314 clinical trial are described in detail, which may help to inform the future trials of predictive biomarkers for urothelial carcinoma in the neoadjuvant setting. Specific areas addressed include: The need for broad support from the bladder cancer community, planning for non-evaluable subjects, defining adequate neoadjuvant treatment, defining adequate tissue collection, setting expectations in phase II clinical studies of predictive biomarkers, and maximizing the impact of the samples collected in these studies for broader biomarker development. With a large number of newly available treatments in advanced urothelial carcinoma in the last few years, more investigations of these agents in the neoadjuvant setting is anticipated. There will be a great need for the development of predictive biomarkers in conjunction with the use of these agents in the preoperative setting. Insights from S1314 may provide useful information and lessons learned in this development.
Project description:There are no predictive biomarkers in clinical use for the neoadjuvant treatment of bladder cancer. Here we report on a recent randomized phase 2 trial validating the identification of predictive biomarkers using cell lines in the absence of patient response data.
Project description:Investigation of RNA-based molecular subtypes as additional predictive biomarkers for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response, progression-free survival and survival in patients treated in S1314.
Project description:Despite cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) 60% of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer still have residual invasive disease at radical cystectomy (RC). The NAC-induced biological alterations in these cisplatin-resistant tumors remain largely unstudied. We analyzed gene expression from 133 patients with residual invasive disease after cisplatin-based NAC. H&E and immunohistochemistry were used to confirm tissue sampling and gene expression analysis. Established molecular subtyping models proved to be inconsistent in their classification of the post-NAC samples. Unsupervised consensus clustering revealed four distinct consensus clusters (CC). The CC1-Basal and CC2-Luminal subtypes expressed genes consistent with a basal-like and a luminal-like phenotype, respectively. The CC3-Immune subtype had the highest immune activity, including T-cell infiltration and checkpoint molecule expression, but lacked both basal and luminal markers. The CC4-Scar-like subtype expressed genes associated with wound-healing/ scarring and was associated with favorable prognosis.
Project description:Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a life-threatening disease best managed with multimodal therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to cystectomy significantly improves survival with the greatest benefit noted in patients with a complete pathologic response noted at cystectomy. While radical cystectomy is currently an important part of the treatment plan, surgical morbidity remains high. Accurate prediction of complete responses to chemotherapy would enable avoiding the morbidity of radical cystectomy. Multiple clinical, pathologic, molecular, and radiographic predictors have been evaluated. Clinical and standard pathologic findings have not been found to be accurate predictors of complete response. To date, tumor genomic findings have been the most promising and have led to multiple clinical trials to evaluate if bladder preservation is possible in select patients. Radiomics has shown initial promise with larger validation series needed. These predictors can be further characterized as treatment specific and non-treatment specific. With the potential changing landscape of neoadjuvant therapy prior to radical cystectomy and the limitations of individual predictors of a complete response, a panel of several biomarkers may enhance patient selection for bladder preservation. The aim of this review is to summarize predictors of complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Project description:BackgroundBladder-sparing chemoradiation therapy is a definitive first-line treatment option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Randomized trials have demonstrated that the addition of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to radical cystectomy or radiation monotherapy results in a survival benefit. Whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes when used with definitive chemoradiation is unknown.Patients and methodsWe identified 2566 patients in the National Cancer Data Base with cT2-4N0M0 urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with definitive intent concurrent chemoradiation from 2004 to 2015. The exposure of interest was receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus those without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary outcome was overall survival defined from the time of diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to compare survival between groups. Sensitivity analyses tested (1) an interaction term for clinical T stage and (2) defining survival from start of radiation (as opposed to time of diagnosis) to address potential leading time bias.ResultsWe identified 462 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation and 2104 patients treated with chemoradiation alone. With a median follow-up of 6.2 years, we found no difference in survival between groups: 5-year or 10-year overall survival of 30.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.4%-32.9%) in the neoadjuvant group versus 31.8% (95% CI, 27.0%-36.8%) in the standard chemoradiation therapy group and 13.3% (95% CI, 11.2%-15.5%) in the neoadjuvant group versus 13.0% (95% CI, 8.4%-18.7%) in the standard chemoradiation therapy group, respectively (log-rank P = .19). On multivariable analysis we found no association between receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.88-1.15; P = .921). The sensitivity analyses did not identify any differential effect by clinical T stage nor by defining survival from start of radiation.ConclusionThese results do not support the routine addition of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to definitive chemoradiation for bladder cancer, and optimizing the chemotherapy sequencing and regimens for bladder-preserving approaches to muscle invasive bladder cancer should continue to be studied under prospective clinical trials.