The Role of Molecular Profiling to Predict the Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors radically changed the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only one-quarter of patients benefit from these new therapies when used as monotherapy. The assessment of Program Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumor expression by immunohistochemistry is used to select potential responder patients, but this not an optimal marker since it does not predict the absence of anti PD-1 efficacy. Despite this shortcoming, PD-L1 remains the gold standard biomarker in many studies and the only biomarker available for clinicians. In addition to histological markers, transcriptomic and exome analyses have revealed potential biomarkers requiring further confirmation. Recently, tumor mutational burden has emerged as a good surrogate marker of outcome. In this review we will detail current knowledge on DNA and RNA related biomarkers

Using Exome Sequencing to Improve Prediction of FOLFIRINOX First Efficacy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: The first line treatment of advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC) comprises a FOLFIRINOX regimen for most patients with good performance status. However, no biomarker to predict efficacy is currently available. We investigated whether exome sequencing could be used to predict progression-free and overall survival in patients undergoing FOLFIRINOX for PDAC. Methods: In this single-center observational study, we included 78 patients with advanced PDAC who underwent somatic and germline exome analyses during first line therapy with FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine. Exome-derived variables associated with outcome were then used in Cox regression models to generate a composite biomarker. Results: Performance status, tumor stage, liver metastasis, and lung metastasis were retained to generate a prognostic clinical score associated with overall and progression-free survival. Clonality, ploidy, and copy number variant (CNV) signatures 1 and 5, as well as gene variants in the calcium, non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), and spliceosome pathways, were retained to generate a genomic prognostic score. The addition of genomic score improved the prediction of prognosis compared to the clinical score alone. Conclusions: This study underlines that structural and pathway genomic features could be used to predict FOLFIRINOX survival in patients with advanced PDAC

Folfirinox in elderly patients with pancreatic or colorectal cancer-tolerance and efficacy

International audienceAIMTo study the tolerance and the efficiency of FOLFIRINOX in elderly patients diagnosed with colorectal or pancreatic cancer.METHODSThis retrospective study included elderly patients aged over 70 years of age treated at Georges-Francois Leclerc Center by FOLFIRINOX for histological proved colorectal or pancreatic cancer between January 2009 and January 2015. Chemotheapy regimen consisted of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2) in over 120 min) followed by leucovorin (400 mg/m(2) in over 120 min), with the addition, after 30 min of irinotecan (180 mg/m(2) in over 90 min) then 5 fluorouracil (5FU) (400 mg/m(2) administred intravenous bolus), followed by 5FU (2400 mg/m2 intraveinous infusion over 46 h) repeated every 2 wk. Geriatric parameters were recorded at the beginning. Toxicities were evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.03. Tumor response was evaluated by CT scan. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicities or patient refusal.RESULTSFifty-two patients aged from 70 to 87 years were treated by FOLFIRINOX, 34 had colorectal cancer and 18 had pancreatic cancer. Most of them were in good general condition, 82.7% had a 0-1 performance status and 61.5% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index < 10. The most frequent severe toxicities were neutropenia (17 patients, n = 32.7%) and diarrhea (35 patients n = 67.3%); 10 of the case of neutropenia and 5 of diarrhea registered a grade 4 toxicity. Thirty-nine patients (75%) initially received an adapted dose of chemotherapy. The dosage was adjusted for 26% of patients during the course of treatment. Tumor response evaluated by RECIST criteria showed a controlled disease for 25 patients (48.1%), a stable disease for 13 and a partial response for 12 patients. Time under treatment was higher for colorectal cancer with a median time of 2.44 mo (95% CI: 1.61-3.25). Overall survival was 43.88 mo for colorectal cancer and 12.51 mo for pancreatic cancer. In univariate or multivariate analysis, none of geriatric parameters were linked to overall survival. Only the type of tumor (pancreatic/colorectal) was linked in both analysis.CONCLUSIONFor people over 70 years old, FOLFIRINOX regimen seems to induce manageable toxicities but similar, even higher, median survival rates compared to younger people

TCR Clonality and Genomic Instability Signatures as Prognostic Biomarkers in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

Purpose: Immune infiltration is a prognostic factor in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) but immunotherapy efficacy is disappointing. Genomic instability is now used to guide the therapeutic value of PARP inhibitors. We aimed to investigate exome-derived parameters to assess the tumor microenvironment according to genomic instability profile. Methods: We used the HGSC TCGA (the cancer genome atlas) dataset with genomic characteristics, including homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), copy number variant (CNV) signatures, TCR (T cell receptor) clonality and abundance of tissue-infiltrating immune and stromal cell populations. We then investigated the relationship with survival data. Results: In 578 HGSC patients, HRD status, CNV signature 7 and TCR clonality were associated with longer survival. The combination of high CNV signature 7 expression and HRD status or high CNV signature 3 expression and high TCR clonality was associated with a trend towards longer survival compared to each variable alone. Combining T cell infiltrate and TCR clonality improved the prognostic value compared to T cells infiltration alone. Prognostic value of TCR clonality was confirmed in an independent cohort. Conclusions: TCR clonality is an emerging prognostic biomarker that improves T cell infiltrate information. Analysis of TCR clonality combined with genomic instability could be an interesting prognostic biomarker

Alpelisib and fulvestrant efficacy in HR-positive HER2-negative PIK3CA -mutant advanced breast cancer: Data from the French early access program.

International audience1064 Background: In 11.2018, the PIK3CA-inhibitor alpelisib was made available in France through an early access program (EAP), in combination with fulvestrant in pre-treated PIK3CA-mutant, HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients. Patients had to received two or more prior systemic treatments for ABC, including an aromatase inhibitor and a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the absence of contraindications. This retrospective real-life, EAP-based study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of alpelisib/fulvestrant combination in the post CDK4/6 inhibitor setting. Methods: The IRB-approved protocol and call for data were sent on 10.2020 to the cancer centers which participated the most in the EAP prospective registry. Eligible patients were women who started alpelisib/fulvestrant between 11. 2018 and 10.2020 as part of the EAP (which excluded patients with visceral crisis or inflammatory BC). Alpelisib and fulvestrant were used at standard doses. Primary endpoint was PFS by local investigators using RECIST1.1. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate and safety (NCI CTCAE v5.0). Results: 10 centers provided individual data regarding 209 consecutive patients. Patients had received a median number of 4 (1-14) previous systemic treatments for ABC, including CDK4/6 inhibitors, chemotherapy, fulvestrant (alone or in combination) and everolimus for 206 (98.8%), 159 (76.1%), 163 (78%) and 123 (58.8%) patients, respectively. With a median FU of 7.0 months, median PFS was 4.0 months (95%CI [3.5;5.0]) and 35.4% of 164 evaluable patients had an objective response. After stratification on the number of prior lines of treatment, prior exposure to everolimus had no impact on PFS (mPFS in the 123 patients pretreated with everolimus: 4.0m, 95%CI [3.5-5.5]). Of note, this population was enriched in patients who had a long disease control by everolimus (median time spent on everolimus: 7.0m, range (6.5-9.0)). In multivariable analysis, characteristics significantly associated with longer PFS were PS < 3 (HR = 0.03, 95%CI [0.02-0.29]) and prior treatment with fulvestrant (HR = 0.53, 95%CI [0.32-0.89]). N = 81(38.8%) patients discontinued alpelisib due to adverse events (AEs). Most frequent grade 3/4 AEs were hyperglycemia, skin rash, diarrhea and fatigue occurring in 13.4, 8.1, 4.8 and 1.9 % of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Despite heavy pre-treatments, alpelisib +fulvestrant had a clinically relevant efficacy in the French EAP population. Interestingly, prior treatment with either everolimus or fulvestrant did not overtly impair alpelisib-fulvestrant efficacy. The best treatment sequence for PI3KCA/mTOR inhibitors could be examined in future trials in PIK3CA-mutant ER+/HER2- ABC patients

Alpelisib and fulvestrant in PIK3CA-mutated hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer included in the French early access program

International audienceSOLAR-1 and BYLieve trials documented the efficacy of the PI3K-inhibitor alpelisib in pre-treated PIK3CA-mutant, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients. We report here real-life data of patients prospectively registered in the French alpelisib early access program (EAP) opened to PIK3CA-mutant HR+/HER2- ABC patients treated with alpelisib and fulvestrant. Primary endpoint was PFS by local investigators using RECIST1.1. Eleven centers provided individual data on 233 consecutive patients. Patients had received a median number of 4 (range: 1–16) prior systemic treatments for ABC, including CDK4/6 inhibitor, chemotherapy, fulvestrant and everolimus in 227 (97.4%), 180 (77.3%), 175 (75.1%) and 131 (56.2%) patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 7.1 months and 168 events, median PFS was 5.3 months (95% CI: 4.7–6.0). Among 186 evaluable patients, CBR at 6 months was 45.3% (95% CI: 37.8–52.8). In multivariable analysis, characteristics significantly associated with a shorter PFS were age 5 lines of prior treatments (HR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0–2.0) and the C420R PI3KCA mutation (HR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.3–13.6). N = 91 (39.1%) patients discontinued alpelisib due to adverse events. To our knowledge, this is the largest real-life assessment of alpelisib efficacy. Despite heavy pre-treatments, patients derived a clinically relevant benefit from alpelisib and fulvestrant