Methods for Establishing a Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Spheroid Model With Immune Infiltration for Immunotherapeutic Studies

Tumor spheroids play an increasingly important role in cancer research. Their ability to recapitulate crucial features of tumor biology that are lost in the classically used 2D models along with their relative simplicity and handiness have made them the most studied 3D tumor model. Their application as a theranostic tool or as a means to study tumor-host interaction is now well-established in various cancers. However, their use in the field of Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) remains very limited. The aim of this work is to present methods to implement a basic RCC spheroid model. These methods cover the steps from RCC tumor dissociation to spheroid infiltration by immune cells. We present a protocol for RCC dissociation using Liberase TM and introduce a culture medium containing Epithelial Growth Factor and Hydrocortisone allowing for faster growth of RCC primary cells. We show that the liquid overlay technique allows for the formation of spheroids from cell lines and from primary cultures. We present a method using morphological criteria to select a homogeneous spheroid population based on a Fiji macro. We then show that spheroids can be infiltrated by PBMCs after activation with OKT3 or IL-15. Finally, we provide an example of application by implementing an immune spheroid killing assay allowing observing increased spheroid destruction after treatment with PD-1 inhibitors. Thus the straightforward methods presented here allow for efficient spheroid formation for a simple RCC 3D model that can be standardized and infused with immune cells to study immunotherapies

Phase II Study of Biweekly Plitidepsin as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced or Metastatic Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urothelium

The objective of this exploratory, open-label, single-arm, phase II clinical trial was to evaluate plitidepsin (5 mg/m2) administered as a 3-hour continuous intravenous infusion every two weeks to patients with locally advanced/metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium who relapsed/progressed after first-line chemotherapy. Treatment cycles were repeated for up to 12 cycles or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, patient refusal or treatment delay for >2 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was objective response rate according to RECIST. Secondary endpoints were the rate of SD lasting ≥ 6 months and time-to-event variables. Toxicity was assessed using NCI-CTC v. 3.0. Twenty-one patients received 57 treatment cycles. No objective tumor responses occurred. SD lasting <6 months was observed in two of 18 evaluable patients. With a median follow-up of 4.6 months, the median PFR and the median OS were 1.4 months and 2.3 months, respectively. The most common AEs were mild to moderate nausea, fatigue, myalgia and anorexia. Anemia, lymphopenia, and increases in transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine were the most frequent laboratory abnormalities. No severe neutropenia occurred. Treatment was feasible and generally well tolerated in this patient population; however the lack of antitumor activity precludes further studies of plitidepsin in this setting

Niraparib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and DNA repair gene defects (GALAHAD): a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial

Background Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers are enriched for DNA repair gene defects (DRDs) that can be susceptible to synthetic lethality through inhibition of PARP proteins. We evaluated the anti-tumour activity and safety of the PARP inhibitor niraparib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers and DRDs who progressed on previous treatment with an androgen signalling inhibitor and a taxane. Methods In this multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study, patients aged at least 18 years with histologically confirmed metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mixed histology accepted, with the exception of the small cell pure phenotype) and DRDs (assessed in blood, tumour tissue, or saliva), with progression on a previous next-generation androgen signalling inhibitor and a taxane per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 or Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 criteria and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2, were eligible. Enrolled patients received niraparib 300 mg orally once daily until treatment discontinuation, death, or study termination. For the final study analysis, all patients who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analysis population; patients with germline pathogenic or somatic biallelic pathogenic alterations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA cohort) or biallelic alterations in other prespecified DRDs (non-BRCA cohort) were included in the efficacy analysis population. The primary endpoint was objective response rate in patients with BRCA alterations and measurable disease (measurable BRCA cohort). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02854436. Findings Between Sept 28, 2016, and June 26, 2020, 289 patients were enrolled, of whom 182 (63%) had received three or more systemic therapies for prostate cancer. 223 (77%) of 289 patients were included in the overall efficacy analysis population, which included BRCA (n=142) and non-BRCA (n=81) cohorts. At final analysis, with a median follow-up of 10·0 months (IQR 6·6–13·3), the objective response rate in the measurable BRCA cohort (n=76) was 34·2% (95% CI 23·7–46·0). In the safety analysis population, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade were nausea (169 [58%] of 289), anaemia (156 [54%]), and vomiting (111 [38%]); the most common grade 3 or worse events were haematological (anaemia in 95 [33%] of 289; thrombocytopenia in 47 [16%]; and neutropenia in 28 [10%]). Of 134 (46%) of 289 patients with at least one serious treatment-emergent adverse event, the most common were also haematological (thrombocytopenia in 17 [6%] and anaemia in 13 [4%]). Two adverse events with fatal outcome (one patient with urosepsis in the BRCA cohort and one patient with sepsis in the non-BRCA cohort) were deemed possibly related to niraparib treatment. Interpretation Niraparib is tolerable and shows anti-tumour activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and DRDs, particularly in those with BRCA alterations

Cervical bone pain revealing a bone metastatic colon cancer: A case report

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Survival of Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated beyond the Second Line in the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Era

Background: The identification of activating mutations in specific genes led to the development of targeted therapies for NSCLC. TKI directed against EGFR-mutations were the first to prove their major efficacy. Medical associations recommend their use as first and second-line metastatic treatments in EGFR-mutated patients. Our objective was to analyze the survival of EGFR-mutated patients treated beyond the second line of treatment. Methods: We performed a longitudinal, retrospective and analytical study at APHP (Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris) Saint Louis, Paris, France, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020 (11 years), on EGFR-mutated patients with metastatic NSCLC which received TKI or chemotherapy (CT) in third-line. Results: Out of about 107 EGFR-mutated patients, 31 patients who benefited from TKI or CT in the third line of treatment were retained for this study. The mean age was 60.03 ± 11.93 years and the sex ratio male/female was 0.24. Mutations of exon 19, 21 and 20 were found in 21 (67.7%), 7 (22.6%) and 7 (22.6%) patients, respectively. Third-line treatment was CT for 16 patients (51.6%) and TKI for the 15 remaining patients (48.4%). Osimertinib was the most used TKI in third-line (n = 10/15; 66.67%). The median duration of third-line treatment was 5.37 months (range 0.53–37.6) and the median follow-up duration was 40.83 months (range 11.33–88.57). There was a significant difference in PFS between patients treated with TKI and CT in third-line (p = 0.028). For patients treated with CT in second-line, there was a significant difference of PFS (p &lt; 0.001) and OS (p = 0.014) in favor of the use of TKI in third-line. Conclusions: For patients receiving CT in second-line, TKI appears to be a better alternative in third-line compared to CT. Osimertinib may be used in third line treatment if not used before

Survival of Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated beyond the Second Line in the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Era

International audienceBackground: The identification of activating mutations in specific genes led to the development of targeted therapies for NSCLC. TKI directed against EGFR-mutations were the first to prove their major efficacy. Medical associations recommend their use as first and second-line metastatic treatments in EGFR-mutated patients. Our objective was to analyze the survival of EGFR-mutated patients treated beyond the second line of treatment.Methods: We performed a longitudinal, retrospective and analytical study at APHP (Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris) Saint Louis, Paris, France, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020 (11 years), on EGFR-mutated patients with metastatic NSCLC which received TKI or chemotherapy (CT) in third-line.Results: Out of about 107 EGFR-mutated patients, 31 patients who benefited from TKI or CT in the third line of treatment were retained for this study. The mean age was 60.03 ± 11.93 years and the sex ratio male/female was 0.24. Mutations of exon 19, 21 and 20 were found in 21 (67.7%), 7 (22.6%) and 7 (22.6%) patients, respectively. Third-line treatment was CT for 16 patients (51.6%) and TKI for the 15 remaining patients (48.4%). Osimertinib was the most used TKI in third-line (n = 10/15; 66.67%). The median duration of third-line treatment was 5.37 months (range 0.53–37.6) and the median follow-up duration was 40.83 months (range 11.33–88.57). There was a significant difference in PFS between patients treated with TKI and CT in third-line (p = 0.028). For patients treated with CT in second-line, there was a significant difference of PFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p = 0.014) in favor of the use of TKI in third-line.Conclusions: For patients receiving CT in second-line, TKI appears to be a better alternative in third-line compared to CT. Osimertinib may be used in third line treatment if not used before

Concurrent treatment with everolimus (RAD001) and hormonoradiotherapy in high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer: Results of a phase I trial.

International audience150 Background: Everolimus is able to stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving everolimus together with hormonotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. Methods: We conducted a phase I trial to evaluate the impact of everolimus (RAD001), an mTOR inhibitor, in patients treated concurrently with radiotherapy (RT) and ablative androgen treatment in high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer. Inclusion criteria were high-risk locally advanced non metastatic prostate cancer defined as clinical stage ≥ T3 or Gleason score ≥ 8 or PSA ≥ 20. The week before the beginning of RT, RAD001 was administered at different dose levels, twice daily, until the last day of irradiation. A nonsteroid antiandrogen was also given for 1 month at the beginning of RT. Prostate and seminal vesicle were irradiated up to 74Gy in 37 fractions of 2Gy with concomitant long-term LHRH analogue. The starting dose of RAD001 was 5mg/d with subsequent dose levels of 7.5 and 10 mg/d. The primary endpoint was the determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Dose escalation was implemented according to the continual reassessment method (CRM). Results: Fifteen patients were enrolled and 14 were assessable for toxicity and response. Significant toxicities were demonstrated at the 7.5 and 10 mg/d dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) occurred in two patients at dose level 7.5 mg/d and characterized by a grade 3 diarrhea and a grade 3 hydronephrosis due to dehydration and kidney lithiasis. DLT also occurred in two patients at dose level 10 mg/d (grade 3 diarrhea and grade 3 laryngopharyngeal infection). The MTD was reached at 7.5 mg/day (dose-level II). The recommended dose of RAD001 was 5 mg/d. After a median follow-up of 22 months, 12 patients are alive, 1 is dead (not related to cancer) and 2 patients had relapsed. Conclusions: Concomitant hormone-radiotherapy and everolimus is well-tolerated with mucositis, hypercholesterolemia, and urinary disorders. The recommended phase-II trial dose of everolimus in this combined setting is 5 mg/day. Clinical trial information: NCT00943956

Combined Chemoradiation Therapy With Twice-Weekly Gemcitabine and Cisplatin for Organ Preservation in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Long-Term Results of a Phase 1 Trial.: Conservative bladder cancer treatment

International audiencePURPOSE: Concomitant treatment with radiation therapy and cisplatin (CDDP) remains the gold standard for bladder preservation in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We present the long-term results of a phase 1 clinical trial to assess the association of twice-weekly gemcitabine with CDDP and radiation therapy in this setting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with pT2-pT4N0M0 MIBC without hydronephrosis or diffuse carcinoma in situ were enrolled in this study. After maximal transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, patients received concomitant radiation therapy (63 Gy in 1.8 fractions) and chemotherapy (CDDP 20 mg/m²/day over 4 days every 21 days and gemcitabine twice a week). The starting dose of gemcitabine was 15 mg/m² with dose escalation to 20, 25, and 30 mg/m². The primary endpoint was the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary endpoints included toxicity and tumor control. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were enrolled. Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in 2 patients treated with 30 mg/m² gemcitabine (grade 4 thrombocytopenia and severe impairment of World Health Organization performance status, respectively). Nine patients received the complete chemoradiation therapy protocol. The recommended dose of gemcitabine was 25 mg/m². The median follow-up time was 53 months, and the overall and disease-specific 5-year survival rates were 62% and 77%, respectively. Among the patients who received the complete treatment, bladder-intact survival was 76% at 5 years, and the median overall survival was 69.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen was well tolerated. The gemcitabine MTD was 25 mg/m². Bladder preservation and disease control were promising. A multicenter phase 2 randomized trial is ongoing