Project description:The treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is evolving rapidly, with promising new regimens being developed and approved for patients with advanced disease, particularly the combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Within the last 6 months, favorable first-line setting results for patients with clear cell RCC have been reported for the combination of cabozantinib plus nivolumab in the phase III CheckMate 9ER study, leading to its regulatory approval, and lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in the phase III CLEAR study. Additional systemic first-line treatments for clear cell RCC include axitinib plus pembrolizumab, pazopanib, and sunitinib for favorable-risk patients and ipilimumab plus nivolumab, axitinib plus pembrolizumab, axitinib plus avelumab, and cabozantinib for intermediate- or poor-risk patients. In this review of novel approaches for first-line treatment of advanced RCC, we present an overview of current treatment strategies, the basis behind emerging treatment approaches, a summary of key results from the pivotal studies using tyrosine kinase inhibitor and immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy, novel treatments and strategies under development, and efforts for identifying biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.
Project description:Rationale: Platinum-based chemotherapy is one of treatment mainstay for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) but it is still a "one-size fits all" approach. Here, we aimed to investigate the predictive and monitoring role of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) profiling for the outcome of first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced LUSC. Methods: Peripheral blood samples of 155 patients from a phase IV trial and 42 cases from an external real-world cohort were prospectively collected. We generated a copy number variations-based classifier via machine learning algorithm to integrate molecular profiling of cfDNA, named RESPONSE SCORE (RS) to predict the treatment outcome. To monitor the treatment efficacy, cfDNA samples collected at different time points were subjected to an ultra-deep sequencing platform. Results: The results showed that patients with high RS showed substantially higher objective response rate than those with low RS in training set (P < 0.001), validation set (P < 0.001) and real-world cohort (P = 0.019). Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in both progression-free survival (training set, P < 0.001; validation set: P < 0.001; real-world cohort: P = 0.019) and overall survival (training set, P < 0.001; validation set: P = 0.037) between high and low RS group. Notably, variant allele frequency (VAF) calculated from an ultra-deep sequencing platform significantly reduced in patients experienced a complete or partial response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy (P < 0.001), while it significantly increased in these of non-responder (P < 0.001). Moreover, VAF undetectable after 2 cycles of chemotherapy was correlated with markedly better objective response rate (P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (P < 0.001) than those with detectable VAF. Conclusions: These findings indicated that the RS, a circulating cfDNA sequencing-based stratification index, could help to guide first-line chemotherapy in advanced LUSC. The change of VAF is valuable to monitor the treatment response.
Project description:ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of nivolumab plus chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy in the first-line treatment for advanced esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients from a healthcare system perspective in China.MethodsOn the basis of the CheckMate 648 trial, a partitioned survival model was constructed to estimate economic costs and health outcomes among overall and PD-L1-positive advanced ESCC patients over a 10-year lifetime horizon. The health-related costs and utilities were obtained from the local charges and published literature. The lifetime costs, life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were measured. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed to assess the robustness of the model.ResultsIn the base-case analysis, in overall and PD-L1-positive advanced ESCC patients, the ICERs were $415,163.81/QALY and $216,628.00/QALY for nivolumab plus chemotherapy, and$430,704.11/QALY and $185,483.94/QALY for nivolumab plus ipilimumab, respectively, compared with chemotherapy. One-way sensitivity analyses revealed that patients' weight was the most influential parameter on ICER. The PSA demonstrated that the probability of nivolumab combination therapy being cost-effective was 0% over chemotherapy at the current price and willingness-to-pay threshold ($38,351.20/QALY). When the price of nivolumab and ipilimumab decreased 80%, the cost-effective probability of nivolumab plus ipilimumab increased to 40.44% and 86.38% in overall and PD-L1-positive advanced ESCC patients, respectively.ConclusionNivolumab combination therapy could improve survival time and health benefits over chemotherapy for advanced ESCC patients, but it is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment option in China.
Project description:Treatment options for patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are improving. Current guidelines recommend first-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for patients with unresectable or metastatic ESCC, which has led to improvements in survival outcomes. Antiangiogenic therapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors can act synergistically to convert the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to an immune supportive microenvironment, thus enhancing antitumor immune responses. In preclinical models, the antiangiogenic agent lenvatinib combined with an anti-PD-1 agent showed synergistic antitumor activity. We describe the design and rationale for the randomized, open-label, phase III LEAP-014 study of lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC. Overall survival and progression-free survival are the dual primary end points.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04949256 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Project description:BackgroundThe global Phase III LUX-Lung 8 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01523587) identified significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with second-line afatinib vs erlotinib in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung.Materials and methodsWe conducted a post hoc analysis of data for patients in LUX-Lung 8 from mainland China (n=67). Compared with erlotinib, afatinib reduced the risk of disease progression or death (PFS) in the Chinese subgroup by 30% (HR=0.70; 95% CI: 0.38-1.27).ResultsThe risk of death was reduced by 31% (HR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.39-1.21). The proportion of Chinese patients with improvements in PROs also favored afatinib vs erlotinib (global health status/quality of life [QoL], 52.8% vs 29.6%, P=0.072; dyspnea, 47% vs 26%, P=0.091; "dyspnea walked", 44% vs 15%, P=0.017; QoL rate, 53% vs 26%, P=0.037).DiscussionWhile this analysis was not powered to demonstrate differences compared to the overall trial population (OTP), and there were some differences in baseline characteristics (eg, the proportion of patients aged ≥65 years old), the benefits of afatinib treatment in Chinese patients with SCC of the lung appeared to be at least comparable to that observed in LUX-Lung 8. As with the OTP, the most common adverse events (AEs) with afatinib in the Chinese subgroup were diarrhea and rash/acne, and the incidence and type of the most frequently occurring AEs were similar.ConclusionThe results suggest that afatinib represents a feasible treatment option for Chinese patients with advanced SCC of the lung following progression on platinum-based chemotherapy.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Thymic carcinomas (TCs) are rare aggressive tumors with no standard first-line treatment. This study was conducted to determine the optimal chemotherapy regimen for advanced TC. METHODS:This retrospective study included 67 patients treated for stage IV TC in 2006-2015. The primary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) with different chemotherapy regimens. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with PFS, including metastatic status, radiotherapy post-chemotherapy, primary lesion resection before chemotherapy, and chemotherapy regimen. RESULTS:A total of 36 patients received a paclitaxel-platinum regimen, 31 received a gemcitabine-platinum regimen, 14 underwent primary lesion resection, and 33 underwent radiotherapy. ORR was 31% (11/36) and 29% (9/31) in the paclitaxel-platinum and gemcitabine-platinum groups, respectively (P = 0.890). Median PFS, one-year PFS rate, and two-year PFS rate were 7.0 months, 26%, and 6% with paclitaxel-platinum treatment and 12 months, 48%, and 24% with gemcitabine-platinum treatment (log-rank P = 0.030). Median PFS, one-year PFS rate, and two-year PFS rate were 18.0 months, 57%, and 33% with surgical resection and 7.3 months, 31%, and 7% without resection (log-rank P = 0.030). Median PFS, one-year PFS rate, and two-year PFS rate were 13.0 months, 52%, and 20% with radiotherapy and 4.3 months, 22%, and 7% without radiotherapy (log-rank P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, metastatic status (hazard ratio [HR], 0.33, P = 0.004), surgical resection (HR, 0.32; P = 0.004), and radiotherapy (HR, 0.32; P < 0.001) were associated with superior PFS. CONCLUSIONS:Both gemcitabine-platinum and paclitaxel-platinum regimens were efficacious for advanced TC. Primary lesion resection and radiotherapy may also benefit selected patients.
Project description:Lung cancer remains the single deadliest cancer both in the US and worldwide. The great majority of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is attributed to cigarette smoking, which fortunately is declining alongside cancer incidence. While we have been at a therapeutic plateau for advanced squamous cell lung cancer patients for several decades, recent observations suggest that we are on the verge of seeing incremental survival improvements for this relatively large group of patients. Current studies have confirmed an expanding role for immunotherapy [including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibition], a potential opportunity for VEGFR inhibition, and even future targets in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and PI3K-AKT that collectively should improve survival as well as quality of life for those affected by squamous cell lung cancer over the next decade.
Project description:Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, both within the US and worldwide. There have been major treatment advances in NSCLC over the past decade with the discovery of molecular drivers of NSCLC, which has ushered in an era of personalized medicine. There are several actionable genetic aberrations in NSCLC, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). In 3%-7% of NSCLC, a chromosomal inversion event in chromosome 2 leads to fusion of a portion of the ALK gene with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) gene. The constitutive activation of the ALK fusion oncogene renders it vulnerable to therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the first-line treatment of advanced ALK-positive NSCLC using ALK inhibitors. Crizotinib was the first agent proven to be efficacious as first-line treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC. However, acquired resistance inevitably develops. The central nervous system is a sanctuary site that represents a common site for disease progression as well. Hence, more potent, selective next-generation ALK inhibitors that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier have been developed for treatment against crizotinib-resistant ALK-positive NSCLC and are also currently being evaluated for first-line therapy as well. In this review, we provide summary of the clinical experience with these drugs in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC.
Project description:Mutations in the KRAS gene are the most common gain-of-function mutations found in lung adenocarcinomas. The most common mutation, KRAS G12C, is present in 13% of lung adenocarcinomas. Sotorasib (AMG-510) is an irreversible small molecule inhibitor targeting KRAS G12C. In preclinical studies, treatment with sotorasib led to the regression of KRAS G12C-mutated tumors, and clinical efficacy in NSCLC was demonstrated in clinical trials. In May 2021, sotorasib received US FDA approval for treatment of KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. In this report, we present a case with metastatic, KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC who responded favorably to sotorasib as first-line therapy. The efficacy of sotorasib as first-line treatment in this patient was remarkable, which supports further study of sotorasib as first-line therapy for KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, especially in fragile patients with comorbidities.