Category: Hem/Onc Updates

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: Nimotuzumab Significantly Improves Overall Survival in K-Ras Wild-Type Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

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SUMMARY: The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2022, about 62,210 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 49,830 people will die of the disease. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and Western Europe. Unfortunately, unlike other malignancies, very little progress has been made and outcome for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has been dismal, with a 5-year survival rate for metastatic pancreatic cancer of approximately 10%. Pancreatic cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is on track to surpass colorectal cancer, to move to the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States.

Majority of patients with pancreatic cancer (80% of cases) are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are not amenable to curative surgical resection, at the time of diagnosis. The current treatment regimens for advanced disease have proved ineffective, conferring a median Overall Survival (OS) of 6-8 months. In patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the main driver is the KRAS oncogene, which is mutationally activated in over 90% of cases, and is more common in older (50 years or more) and female patients. However approximately 8-12% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma do not harbor KRAS mutations.

Nimotuzumab is a humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, that binds to EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) and disrupts the interaction of the EGFR with its ligand, specifically blocking the EGFR signaling pathway, and mediating Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) and other immune effects, and inducing EGFR endocytosis and degradation. Nimotuzumab as a single agent showed activity in high grade brain tumors, and resulted in high rates of antitumor response in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, when combined with radiation therapy. Nimotuzumab is approved in different countries for the treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck (SCCHN), Glioma and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

NOTABLE is a prospective, double-blind, Phase III trial in which the efficacy and safety of Nimotuzumab in combination with Gemcitabine was compared with Gemcitabine alone, in patients with KRAS wild-type, locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. In this study, 92 patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer were randomly assigned to receive either Nimotuzumab 400 mg IV every week followed by Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, and 15 of every 28-day cycle or placebo plus Gemcitabine. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The treatment groups were well balanced. The median age was 56 years and approximately 56% had prior surgical management or treatment of biliary duct obstruction. The Primary endpoint was Overall Survival (OS), and Secondary endpoints included Progression Free Survival (PFS), Objective Response Rate (ORR), and Safety. The researchers envisioned that patients who did not need surgical management or treatment of biliary duct obstruction, typically would have better liver function without jaundice, and therefore would better tolerate chemotherapy. A subgroup analyses was therefore conducted based on whether the patients needed surgical management or treatment of bile duct obstructions prior to receiving chemotherapy.

The median Overall Survival was significantly longer in the Nimotuzumab/Gemcitabine group compared to those who received placebo plus Gemcitabine (10.9 months versus 8.5 months; HR=0.50; P=0.025). The one-year survival rate was 43.6% in the Nimotuzumab/Gemcitabine group versus 26.8% in the placebo-Gemcitabine group and the 3-year survival rate was 13.9% and 2.7%, respectively. The median Progression Free Survival was 4.2 months in the Nimotuzumab/Gemcitabine group compared to 3.6 months in the placebo plus Gemcitabine group (HR=0.56; P=0.013).

Among those patients who did not need surgical management or treatment of biliary duct obstruction, subgroup analyses showed significantly more survival benefit in patients without treatment of biliary obstruction (11.9 months versus. 8.5 months; HR=0.54; P=0.037) and among those with no surgical history (15.8 months versus 6.0 months; HR=0.40). Patients without treatment of biliary obstruction also had a significantly longer PFS (5.5 months versus 3.4 months; P=0.008) respectively. There was no statistical difference in the Objective Response Rates between the two treatment groups (P>0.05). Grade 3 adverse events in the Nimotuzumab/Gemcitabine group were neutropenia (11%), leukopenia (9%) and thrombocytopenia (7%). No Grade 4 adverse events were noted.

It was concluded that Nimotuzumab in combination with Gemcitabine, significantly increased Overall Survival and Progression Free Survival, in patients with K-Ras wild-type locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This benefit was even more in patients who did not need surgical management or treatment of biliary duct obstruction.

Nimotuzumab combined with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine in K-RAS wild-type locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: A prospective, randomized-controlled, double-blinded, multicenter, and phase III clinical trial. Qin S, Bai Y, Wang Z, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17):LBA4011. doi:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_suppl.LBA4011.

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: FOLFOXIRI Plus Bevacizumab in Unresectable Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastases

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SUMMARY: ColoRectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 151,030 new cases of CRC will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022 and about 52,580 patients are expected to die of the disease. The lifetime risk of developing CRC is about 1 in 23.

Approximately 15-25% of the patients with CRC present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis (synchronous metastases) and 50-60% of the patients with CRC will develop metastatic disease during the course of their illness. First line treatment of metastatic CRC include Oxaliplatin or Irinotecan, in combination with a Fluoropyrimidine and Leucovorin (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI), along with a VEGF targeting agent such as Bevacizumab. Patients with stage IV colorectal cancer are now routinely analyzed for extended RAS and BRAF mutations. KRAS mutations are predictive of resistance to EGFR targeted therapy. Approximately 8-15% of all metastatic CRC tumors present with BRAF V600E mutations and BRAF V600E is recognized as a marker of poor prognosis in this patient group. These patients tend to have aggressive disease and do not respond as well to standard treatment intervention. Approximately 20% of the BRAF-mutated population in the metastatic setting has MSI-High tumors, but MSI-High status does not confer protection to this patient group. Colorectal cancer patients with unresectable liver-only metastases at the time of initial presentation may potentially be cured, after downsizing of metastases by neoadjuvant systemic therapy. However, the optimal neoadjuvant induction regimen has not been defined.

CAIRO5 is a prospective, randomized, multicentre, Phase III trial, conducted to investigate the optimal systemic induction therapy for patients with initially unresectable, liver-only colorectal cancer metastases. In this study, 294 patients were randomized to receive either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI plus Bevacizumab (N=148), or FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab (N=146) for up to 12 cycles. Bevacizumab was given at a dose of 5 mg/kg IV. FOLFOX/FOLFIRI regimen consisted of either Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 IV or Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 IV, given along with Leucovorin 400 mg/m2 IV over 120 minutes, 5-Flourouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m2 IV, followed by 5-FU 2400 mg/m2 given as an IV infusion over 46 hours. FOLFOXIRI regimen consisted of Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 IV, Irinotecan 165 mg/m2 IV, given along with Leucovorin 400 mg/m2 IV over 120 minutes, followed by 5-FU 3200 mg/m2 given as an IV infusion over 46 hours. Treatment was given every 2 weeks for a maximum of 12 cycles, followed by 5-FU, Leucovorin and Bevacizumab maintenance until disease progression. Enrolled patients had metastatic CRC with previously untreated liver-only metastases, (un)resectability status was prospectively assessed by a central panel consisting of radiologists and liver surgeons, according to predefined criteria, and patients were assessed for resectability every 2 months. Eligible patients had right-sided primary tumor and/or RAS or BRAF V600E mutated tumor. Both treatment groups were well balanced. The median age was 63 years, 41% had right-sided primary tumor, 86% of tumors had RAS mutation, 7% had BRAF V600E mutation, 5% had prior adjuvant chemotherapy, the median number of colorectal liver metastases was 12, and 87% had potentially resectable colorectal metastases. Patients were stratified by potentially resectable versus permanently unresectable colorectal liver metastases, BRAFV600E mutation, sidedness and choice of Irinotecan versus Oxaliplatin. The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included R0/1 resection, Overall Survival (OS), Overall Response Rate (ORR), toxicity, pathologic response and postoperative morbidity.

At a median follow up of 41 months, the median PFS was 9.0 months with doublet regimen FOLFOX/FOLFIRI plus Bevacizumab versus 10.6 months with the triplet regimen of FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab. (HR=0.74; P=0.02). The ORR was 32% in the FOLFOX/FOLFIRI plus Bevacizumab group versus 52.1% in the FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab group (P<0.001), R0/1 resection/ ablation rates were 37.4% versus 51.4% (P=0.02), and postoperative complications occurred in 38.2% versus 51.2% (P=0.14), respectively. Overall Survival data was immature at the time of data cutoff. Grade 3 or more adverse events, including neutropenia and diarrhea, were more common in the FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab group.

It was concluded that in patients with initially unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis and right-sided and/or RAS or BRAF-mutated primary tumor, the triplet regimen of FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab resulted in superior Progression Free Survival, a higher Objective Response Rate, and a greater chance for R0/R1 hepatic metastasectomy with or without ablation, compared to doublet chemotherapy with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI plus Bevacizumab. This benefit with the triplet regimen was achieved at the cost of increased toxicity, suggesting that careful patient selection should be made for the triplet regimen.

FOLFOXIRI + bevacizumab versus FOLFOX/FOLFIRI + bevacizumab in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and right-sided and/or RAS/BRAFV600E-mutated primary tumor: Phase III CAIRO5 study of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group. Punt CJA, Bond MJG, Bolhuis K, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17):LBA3506.

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: RVd Plus Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation and REVLIMID® Maintenance Improves PFS in Multiple Myeloma

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SUMMARY: Multiple Myeloma is a clonal disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow and the American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States, 34,470 new cases will be diagnosed in 2022 and 12,640 patients will die of the disease. Multiple Myeloma is a disease of the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of 69 years and characterized by intrinsic clonal heterogeneity. Almost all patients eventually will relapse, and patients with a high-risk cytogenetic profile, extramedullary disease or refractory disease have the worst outcomes. The introduction of Proteasome Inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents and CD 38 targeted therapies has resulted in higher Response Rates, as well as longer Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS), with the median survival for patients with myeloma approaching 10 years or more. Nonetheless, Multiple Myeloma (MM) in 2022 remains an incurable disease.

In patients with newly diagnosed Myeloma who are eligible for transplant, the optimal use of triplet/quadruplet induction regimens, Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT), and REVLIMID® (Lenalidomide)-based maintenance, continues to evolve. In the IFM 2009 French trial, REVLIMID® maintenance treatment was admininstered for one year and after a median follow-up of 89.8 months, the median Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 47.2 months with RVd plus ASCT and 35 months with RVd alone, but there was no Overall Survival (OS) benefit.

DETERMINATION ((Delayed vs Early Transplant with Revlimid Maintenance and Antimyeloma Triple Therapy) trial is a randomized Phase III trial, conducted to determine whether Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) enhances the efficacy of first line triplet induction therapy or whether it should be kept in reserve for select group of patients. In this study, 722 patients with symptomatic newly diagnosed Myeloma were enrolled. All patients received 3 cycles of RVd followed by stem cell mobilization (for possible ASCT if disease progressed). Patients were then randomly assigned to receive 5 additional cycles of RVd (RVd-alone arm, N=357) or Melphalan at 200 mg/m2, followed by ASCT and 2 additional cycles of RVd (RVd+ASCT arm, N=365). Each RVd cycle consisted of REVLIMID® 25 mg orally on days 1-14, VELCADE® (Bortezomib) 1.3 mg/m2 IV or SC on days 1, 4, 8, 11, and Dexamethasone given orally on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, given as 21 day cycles. Dexamethasone was dosed at 20 mg/day for first 3 cycles and 10 mg/day for remaining cycles. Both treatment groups then received REVLIMID® maintenance at 10-15 mg orally daily, until disease progression or drug related toxicities. Both treatment groups were well balanced. The median age of enrolled patients was 56 years, approximately 14% of patients had ISS Stage III Multiple Myeloma and 18% had high-risk cytogenetics such as t(4;14), t(14;16), del17p. Approximately 19% of trial participants were African American, which is the highest representation of this subset of patients in any Phase III Myeloma trial. The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS). Secondary end points included Response Rates, Duration of Response (DOR), time to progression, Overall Survival (OS), Quality of Life, and Safety.

At a median follow up of 76 months, the median PFS was 46.2 months in the RVd alone group versus 67.6 months in the RVd plus ASCT group (HR=1.53; P<0.0001). The estimated 5-year PFS rates were 41.5% and 55.6% respectively. The 5 year Overall Survival was similar and not statistically different and was 79.2% and 80.7% respectively. The authors attributed the lack of Overall Survival in the RVd plus ASCT group to the availability of many highly effective treatment options now available after first-line therapy including salvage ASCT, next-generation immunomodulatory drugs, Proteasome Inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.

When evaluated by cytogenetic risk, for the standard risk group, the median PFS was 82.3 months in the RVd plus ASCT group versus 53.2 months in the RVd alone group, whereas for patients with high risk cytogenetics, the median PFS was 55.5 versus 17.1 months, respectively. Further, patients with t(4;14) derived more PFS benefit from RVd plus ASCT than those with del(17p). The PFS benefit with RVd plus ASCT was inferior among the African American enrollees and individuals with a Body Mass Index greater than 25 kg/m2.

Even though the Response Rates and quality of responses were similar between the two treatment groups, the Duration of Response was longer in the RVd plus ASCT group at 56.4 months, compared to 39.9 months in the RVd alone group.

More patients in the RVd plus ASCT group achieved MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) negativity compared to RVD alone (54.4% versus 39.8%), despite similar Complete Response Rates in both treatment groups. These MRD negative patients had favorable 5-year PFS, regardless of their treatment assignment. However, RVd plus ASCT improved PFS by 67% among the MRD positive patients.

Grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse effects including mucositis, fatigue, and infections were less common without ASCT than with, at 78% versus 94% respectively. Secondary malignancies occurred in 10% of the RVd-alone group and 11% of the RVd plus ASCT group. Following RVd plus ASCT, 10 patients developed Myelodysplastic syndrome and/or Acute Myeloid Leukemia, compared with none in the RVd-alone group, and this was statistically significant (P=0.002).

The authors concluded that a combination of REVLIMID®, VELCADE® and Dexamethasone (RVd) plus ASCT as initial therapy followed by REVLIMID® maintenance until progression, demonstrated a significant improvement in PFS compared to RVd alone, followed by REVLIMID® maintenance, in patients with newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma. There was no Overall Survival advantage observed to date. The researchers added that given the lack of benefit in OS and potential toxicities associated with ASCT, these data provide support for personalized treatment approaches, and helps patients make informed decision to delay transplant. Additionally, the significantly longer PFS for both treatment groups in the DETERMINATION study compared to the IFM 2009 (preplanned comparison), suggests that there is a clear benefit to continuous REVLIMID® maintenance until disease progression.

Lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVd) ± autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and R maintenance to progression for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM): The phase 3 DETERMINATION trial. Richardson PG, Jacobus SJ, Weller E, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17):LBA4. doi:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_suppl.LBA4

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: ENHERTU® for HER2-Low Advanced Breast Cancer

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SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 290,560 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 and about 43,780 individuals will die of the disease, largely due to metastatic recurrence.

It is estimated that approximately 60% of metastatic breast cancers categorized as HER2-negative express low levels of HER2, defined as a score of 1+ on ImmunoHistoChemical (IHC) analysis or as an IHC score of 2+ and negative results on In Situ Hybridization (ISH). These HER2-low breast cancer tumors are treated as HER2-negative, as currently available HER2-directed therapies have resulted in poor outcomes. These patients have limited targeted treatment options and are often treated with single agent palliative chemotherapy following progression on first line chemotherapy.

ENHERTU® (Trastuzumab Deruxtecan) is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody specifically targeting HER2, with the amino acid sequence similar to Trastuzumab, a cleavable tetrapeptide-based linker, and a potent cytotoxic Topoisomerase I inhibitor as the cytotoxic drug (payload). ENHERTU® has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and the tetrapeptide-based linker is stable in the plasma and is selectively cleaved by cathepsins that are up-regulated in tumor cells. Unlike KADCYLA® (ado-Trastuzumab emtansine), ENHERTU® has a higher drug-to-antibody ratio (8 versus 4), released payload easily crosses the cell membrane with resulting potent cytotoxic effect on neighboring tumor cells regardless of target expression, and the released cytotoxic agent (payload) has a short half-life , thus minimizing systemic exposure. The potential activity of ENHERTU® in HER2-low breast cancer tumors is driven by the bystander antitumor effect, offered by the optimized ADC technology. Previously published Phase I and II trials have shown that ENHERTU® in heavily pretreated patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer resulted in an Overall Response Rate of 37%, and median Progression Free Survival ranging from 6.3 to 11.1 months.

DESTINY-Breast04 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase III trial, conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ENHERTU® as compared with the physician’s choice of chemotherapy, in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. In this study, patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive ENHERTU® 5.4 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks (N=373) or the physician’s choice of Capecitabine, Eribulin, Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel, or Nab-paclitaxel (N=184). Low expression of HER2 was defined as a score of 1+ on ImmunoHistoChemical (IHC) analysis or as an IHC score of 2+ and negative results on In Situ Hybridization (ISH). Randomization was stratified according to HER2-low status (IHC 1+ versus IHC 2+ and ISH-negative), the number of previous lines of chemotherapy for metastatic disease (one versus two), and Hormone Receptor (HR) status (positive versus negative) and if positive, previous CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy versus no CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. IHC scores for HER2 expression were determined through central testing with the use of VENTANA HER2/neu investigational assay system, according to an algorithm adapted from the 2018 ASCO/CAP testing guidelines. Eligible patients must have received chemotherapy for metastatic disease or have had disease recurrence during or within 6 months after completing adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with Hormone Receptor positive (HR-positive) disease must have received at least one line of endocrine therapy. Patients with treated, stable brain metastases were eligible. Patients were ineligible if they had a history of noninfectious interstitial lung disease treated with steroids or had suspected interstitial lung disease on imaging at screening. Both treatment groups were well balanced and approximately 89% in the ENHERTU® group and 90% in the chemotherapy group were HR-positive. The Primary end point was Progression Free Survival (PFS) among patients with HR-positive disease. Secondary end points included PFS among all patients, Overall Survival (OS) in the HR-positive cohort and among all patients, Objective Response Rate (ORR), Duration of Response, and efficacy in the HR-negative cohort. The median duration of follow up for survival was 18.4 months.

At the time of the primary efficacy analysis, the median PFS in the HR-positive cohort was 10.1 months in the ENHERTU® group and 5.4 months in the physician’s choice group (HR for disease progression or death=0.51; P<0.001). This benefit with ENHERTU® was seen consistently across all analyzed subgroups which included HER2 IHC 1+, HER2 IHC 2+ and ISH-negative, as well as those who had received previous treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The median PFS among all patients was 9.9 months in the ENHERTU® group and 5.1 months in the physician’s choice group (HR for disease progression or death=0.50; P<0.001). The median PFS in the HR-negative cohort was 8.5 months in the ENHERTU® group and 2.9 months in the physician’s choice group (HR=0.46).

The median OS in the HR-positive cohort was 23.9 months in the ENHERTU® group and 17.5 months in the physician’s choice group (HR for death=0.64; P=0.003). The median OS among all patients was 23.4 months in the ENHERTU® group and 16.8 months in the physician’s choice group HR=0.64; P=0.001). The median OS in the HR-negative cohort was 18.2 months in the ENHERTU® group and 8.3 months in the physician’s choice group (HR=0.48).

The ORR in the HR-positive group was 52.6% in the ENHERTU® group and 16.3% in the physician’s choice group, and the median duration of response was 10.7 months in the ENHERTU® group and 6.8 months in the physician’s choice group. The ORR among all patients was 52.3% in the ENHERTU® group and 16.3% in the physician’s choice group. Among HR-negative cohort, the ORRs were 50% and 16.7% respectively.

Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 53% of the patients who received ENHERTU® and 67.4% of those who received the physician’s choice of chemotherapy. Adjudicated, drug-related Interstitial Lung Disease or pneumonitis occurred in 12.1% of the patients who received ENHERTU®.

The authors concluded that this is the first Phase III, practice-changing trial of a HER2-directed therapy in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, to show a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in PFS and OS, compared to standard chemotherapy, regardless of Hormone Receptor status, with a generally manageable safety profile. The authors added that the strong efficacy of ENHERTU® in this HER2-low patient population, with approximately 50% lower risk of disease progression and 36% lower risk of death with ENHERTU® compared to standard chemotherapy, supports the need to reclassify HER2-low as a new targetable category of metastatic breast cancer.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Previously Treated HER2-Low Advanced Breast Cancer. Modi S, Jacot W, Yamashita T, et al. for the DESTINY-Breast04 Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 2022; 387:9-20.

Screening for Pancreatic Cancer Results in Early Detection and Improved Overall Survival

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SUMMARY: The American Cancer Society’s estimates that in 2022, about 62,210 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 49,830 people will die of the disease. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and Western Europe. Unfortunately, unlike other malignancies, very little progress has been made and outcome for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has been dismal, with a 5-year survival rate for metastatic pancreatic cancer of approximately 10%. Pancreatic cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is on track to surpass colorectal cancer, to move to the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States

Detecting cancer at early stages can significantly increase survival rates and outcomes. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers, and is typically detected when the disease is advanced. Even though serum CA19-9 is intended as an aid in the management of patients with confirmed pancreatic cancer for serial monitoring of their response to therapy and disease progression, it is not recommended by the FDA for screening, as it may be elevated in several benign conditions.

NCCN guideline recommends that germline testing should be considered for all patients with pancreatic cancer and is especially recommended for those with a personal history of cancer, family history or clinical suspicion of a family history of pancreatic cancer. Approximately 10% of pancreatic cancer cases have a familial component. When hereditary cancer syndrome is suspected in patients with pancreatic cancer, genetic counseling should be considered.

Screening for pancreatic cancer has been recommended for individuals considered to be at high risk of developing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (5% or higher estimated lifetime risk). The risk increases with the number of affected first-degree relatives with pancreatic cancer and in those who carry a pathogenic germline variant in a pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene. The goals of screening for pancreatic cancer are to reduce mortality from pancreatic cancer through early detection, at a stage when the disease is most curable (Stage I), or when there is only a noninvasive neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia.

The Cancer of the Pancreas Screening Study (CAPS) is a research program developed at Johns Hopkins in 1998, to evaluate the effectiveness of early detection screening in high risk individuals of pancreatic cancer, and to progress the discovery of new biomarkers to improve early detection. The screening consortium agreed that to be successful, a screening program should detect and treat T1N0M0 margin-negative pancreatic cancer and high-grade dysplastic precursor lesions (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm). CAPS 1–4 studies were single-institution studies, whereas CAPS 5 is a multicenter, prospective cohort study involving eight academic medical centers in the United States that opened to enrollment in 2014. The goal of CAPS 5 was to report pancreas surveillance outcomes of high-risk individuals within the CAPS 5 study, and to update outcomes of patients enrolled in prior CAPS studies, initiated more than 20 years ago. .

CAPS 5 prospectively enrolled 1,461 high-risk individuals for pancreas surveillance. High Risk Individuals included those with hereditary syndromes or germline variant carriers such as BRCA2, ATM, BRCA1, PALB2 or Lynch syndrome associated genes with a family history of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, FAMMM-Familial Atypical Multiple mole Melanoma (CDKN2A) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (STK11). Also included in the high risk group were individuals with a family history of at least one first-degree and one second-degree relative with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. High risk individuals should have met age criteria for surveillance. Surveillance protocol included annual surveillance with endoscopic ultrasound and or MRI/MRCP, often alternating between these two methods. Surveillance interval was modified when suspicious lesions were detected.

The Primary outcome of this study was the early detection of Stage I pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma or a noninvasive neoplasm with high grade dysplasia among high risk individuals undergoing surveillance. The study’s secondary outcome was Overall Survival after a diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or high grade dysplasia for high risk individuals enrolled in all CAPS studies (CAPS1-5), estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Among the 1461 high risk individuals undergoing surveillance in the CAPS 5 study, 77.8% of pancreatic cancers were surgical pathology Stage I at diagnosis, 88.9% had resectable disease and the median survival for these patients was 9.8 years. This is in contrast to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma diagnosed outside surveillance where more than 50% present with metastatic disease, less than 20% have localized resectable disease and less than 5% have surgical Stage I disease.

In the entire CAPS cohort (CAPS 1-5) to date, the 5-year Overall Survival among screen-detected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was 73.3%. The patients who progressed to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in this study included carriers with germline pathogenic variants and those who met familial-risk criteria only. These results support current CAPS surveillance recommendations and argue against limiting pancreatic surveillance to those high-risk individuals with known pathogenic mutations. The median survival in the entire CAPS cohort for the patients with a screen-detected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was 9.8 years, compared with 1.5 years for patients whose pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were diagnosed outside surveillance (HR=0.13; P=0.003).

The researchers concluded that screening for pancreatic cancer in high risk individuals can result in early detection, at a stage when the disease is most curable (Stage I).

The Multicenter Cancer of Pancreas Screening Study: Impact on Stage and Survival. Dbouk M, Katona BW, Brand RE, et al., J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jun 15;JCO2200298. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00298. Online ahead of print.

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: KISQALI® with Switch Endocrine Therapy Following Progression on a Prior CDK4/6 Inhibitor in HR+/HER2-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

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SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 290,560 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 and about 43,780 individuals will die of the disease, largely due to metastatic recurrence. Approximately 70% of breast tumors in patients with metastatic disease are Estrogen Receptor (ER) and/or Progesterone Receptor (PR) positive and HER2-negative. These patients are often treated with single agent endocrine therapy, endocrine therapy in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor, or single agent chemotherapy.

Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDK) play a very important role to facilitate orderly and controlled progression of the cell cycle. Genetic alterations in these kinases and their regulatory proteins have been implicated in various malignancies. Cyclin Dependent Kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6) phosphorylate RetinoBlastoma protein (RB), and initiate transition from the G1 phase to the S phase of the cell cycle. RetinoBlastoma protein has antiproliferative and tumor-suppressor activity and phosphorylation of RB protein nullifies its beneficial activities. CDK4 and CDK6 are activated in hormone receptor positive breast cancer, promoting breast cancer cell proliferation. Further, there is evidence to suggest that endocrine resistant breast cancer cell lines depend on CDK4 for cell proliferation and associated with increased expression of CDK4. The understanding of the role of Cyclin Dependent Kinases in the cell cycle, has paved the way for the development of CDK inhibitors.

KISQALI® (Ribociclib) is an orally bioavailable, selective, small-molecule inhibitor of CDK4/6, preferentially inhibiting CDK4 that blocks the phosphorylation of RetinoBlastoma protein, thereby preventing cell-cycle progression and inducing G1 phase arrest.

MAINTAIN trial is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, Phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective randomized study, conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Fulvestrant or Exemestane with or without KISQALI®, in patients with HR+/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, who had previously progressed on any CDK 4/6 inhibitor plus any endocrine therapy. In this study, 119 evaluable patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either KISQALI® 600mg orally once daily given 3 weeks on and 1 week off plus switch endocrine therapy (N= 60) or placebo plus switch endocrine therapy (N=59). Patients treated with prior Fulvestrant received Exemestane as endocrine therapy in the randomization, whereas if prior Exemestane was endocrine therapy, patients received Fulvestrant. If patients received neither as prior endocrine therapy, Fulvestrant or Exemestane was given per investigator discretion, although Fulvestrant was encouraged. Ultimately, 83% of patients received Fulvestrant and 17% received Exemestane. Eligible patients were postmenopausal, had HR+/HER2- negative metastatic breast cancer and had progressed on prior endocrine therapy and any CDK4/6 inhibitor. With regards to prior CDK 4/6 inhibitor treatment, 84% received IBRANCE® (Palbociclib), 11% received KISQALI®, 2% received VERZENIO® (Abemaciclib) and 3% received IBRANCE® and another CDK 4/6 inhibitor. The median duration of treatment with the prior CDK4/6 inhibitor was 15.5 months in the KISQALI® group and 17 months in the placebo group. Approximately 60% of patients had visceral metastasis, 45% had de novo metastasis at diagnosis, 18% had bone-only disease, 18% had received 2 or more prior endocrine therapies for metastatic disease, and 9% had received chemotherapy. The Primary end point was Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Secondary end points included Overall Response Rate (ORR), Clinical Benefit Rate, safety, and tumor and blood biomarkers. The median follow up was 18.2 months.

There was a statistically significant PFS improvement for patients randomized to KISQALI® plus endocrine therapy and the median PFS for patients in the KISQALI® plus endocrine therapy was 5.33 months, compared with 2.76 months for patients receiving placebo and endocrine therapy (HR=0.56;; P=0.004). At 12 months, the PFS rates were 24.6% in the KISQALI® group versus 7.4% in the placebo group. Similar results were noted in the subset of patients treated with Fulvestrant and KISQALI®, and the median PFS for those randomized to KISQALI® was 5.29 months versus 2.76 months in the placebo group (HR=0.59; P=0.02). The PFS benefit was more evident in KISQALI® group compared to the placebo group, especially among those who received a shorter duration of therapy with a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor (HR=0.36) and among those over age 65 years (HR=0.31). The Overall Response Rate in the KISQALI® group was 20%, compared to 11% in the placebo group, and the median Duration of Response was 18.8 months in those treated with KISQALI® and endocrine therapy, compared with 14.8 months for those treated with placebo plus endocrine therapy. There was also a significant improvement in the Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR), defined as patients who achieved Complete Response, Partial Response, or stable disease lasting at least 24 weeks. The CBR was significantly improved in the KISQALI® group, compared with the placebo group, and was 43% versus 25%, respectively (P=0.06). The most common adverse event in the KISQALI® group was neutropenia at 72%, compared to 15% in the placebo group.

It was concluded from this randomized, placebo-controlled trial that, treatment with KISQALI® and an alternate endocrine therapy, after progression on a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor, showed a 43% reduction in the risk of progression or death, compared with placebo and endocrine therapy, in patients with HR+/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

A randomized, phase II trial of fulvestrant or exemestane with or without ribociclib after progression on anti-estrogen therapy plus cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibition (CDK 4/6i) in patients (pts) with unresectable or hormone receptor–positive (HR+), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC): MAINTAIN trial. Kalinsky K, Accordino MK, Chiuzan C, et al. J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 17; abstr LBA1004). DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_suppl.LBA1004.

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: Panitumumab Combined with mFOLFOX6 Improves Overall Survival in Left-Sided RAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

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SUMMARY: ColoRectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 151,030 new cases of CRC will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022 and about 52,580 patients are expected to die of the disease. The lifetime risk of developing CRC is about 1 in 23.

Approximately 15-25% of the patients with CRC present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis (synchronous metastases) and 50-60% of the patients with CRC will develop metastatic disease during the course of their illness. First line treatment of metastatic CRC include Oxaliplatin or Irinotecan, in combination with a Fluoropyrimidine and Leucovorin (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI), along with a VEGF targeting agent such as Bevacizumab or EGFR targeting agents such as Cetuximab and Panitumumab. However numerous studies have failed to clearly establish that any of these combination regimens would be superior for any given patient based on clinical factors. Nonetheless, majority of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receive FOLFOX-based first line treatment in the US. 

A retrospective evaluation from the Phase III 80405 clinical trial which included data from 1,025 patients with KRAS wild-type disease, concluded that the biology of tumors originating in the right colon may be different from those originating in the left colon, with Cetuximab showing superiority over Bevacizumab, when combined with chemotherapy, in KRAS wild-type patients with left-sided colon cancer. (J Clin Oncol 34, 2016: suppl; abstr 3504).

Panitumumab (VECTIBIX®) is a human IgG2 kappa monoclonal antibody, that targets and antagonizes Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). The PARADIGM Trial is a multicenter, open-label, prospective, Phase III study conducted in Japan, to evaluate the efficacy and superiority of mFOLFOX6 plus Panitumumab compared to mFOLFOX6 plus Bevacizumab, in the first line treatment of chemotherapy-naïve patients with RAS wild type (KRAS/NRAS gene) metastatic colorectal cancer and left-sided primary tumors (descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum). In this first prospective randomized study, a total of 400 patients received Panitumumab and 402 received Bevacizumab. Both groups received mFOLFOX6. Most of the patients had left sided tumors (N=614) of whom 312 patients received Panitumumab with chemotherapy, whereas 292 patients received Bevacizumab with chemotherapy. The Primary endpoint of Overall Survival (OS) was hierarchically tested in patients with left-sided tumors, followed by evaluation in the entire study population. Key Secondary endpoints included Progression Free Survival (PFS), Objective Response Rate (ORR), and curative resection (R0) rate. Overall Survival in patients with left-sided tumors was analyzed after a median follow up of 61 months.

The study met its Primary endpoint and Panitumumab in combination with mFOLFOX6 significantly improved median Overall Survival, compared to Bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6 in the left-sided tumor population, with a 18% lower risk of death (37.9 months versus 34.3 months; HR=0.82; P=0.031). When the data was subsequently analyzed for the entire study group, the OS benefit also significantly favored Panitumumab combination over Bevacizumab combination (median 36.2 months versus 31.3 months; HR=0.84; P=0.030). This difference however appears to be driven by the left-sided tumor population, as there was no significant OS improvement seen for patients with right-sided tumors in an exploratory analysis (median 20.2 months versus 23.2 months; HR=1.09).

There was no significant difference in the median PFS between treatment groups in the population with left-sided tumors and the median PFS was 13.7 months with Panitumumab combination and 13.2 months with Bevacizumab combination (HR=0.98). However, both Objective Response Rate and curative (R0) resection rate was higher in the Panitumumab group compared with Bevacizumab group, in the population with left-sided tumors. The Objective Response Rate was 80.2% versus 68.6%, the curative (R0) resection rate 18.3% versus 11.6% and the median duration of response was 13.1 versus 11.2 months respectively. Treatment with Panitumumab, resulted in more skin, mucosal and nail toxicities, commonly associated with EGFR inhibitors, and no new safety signal were observed.

It was concluded that in this first and largest randomized first line study comparing the efficacy of different targeted therapies in combination with standard doublet chemotherapy based on tumor sidedness, Panitumumab in combination with mFOLFOX6 significantly improved Overall Survival, resulted in a higher Objective Response Rate and a higher curative resection rate, in patients with RAS wild-type and left-sided metastatic colorectal cancer, compared with patients who received Bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing, as well as taking into consideration tumor location, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Panitumumab (PAN) plus mFOLFOX6 versus bevacizumab (BEV) plus mFOLFOX6 as first-line treatment in patients with RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Results from the phase 3 PARADIGM trial. Yoshino T, Watanabe J, Shitara K, et al. DOI:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_suppl.LBA1 Journal of Clinical Oncology 40, no. 17_suppl (June 10, 2022) LBA1.

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: Survival Benefit with TRODELVY® in Hormone Receptor Positive/HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

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SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 290,560 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 and about 43,780 individuals will die of the disease, largely due to metastatic recurrence. Approximately 70% of breast tumors in patients with metastatic disease are Estrogen Receptor (ER) and/or Progesterone Receptor (PR) positive and HER2-negative. These patients are often treated with single agent endocrine therapy, endocrine therapy in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor, or single agent chemotherapy. Resistance to hormonal therapy occurs in a majority of the patients and there is therefore an unmet need for agents with novel mechanisms of action.

TRODELVY® (Sacituzumab govitecan) is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) in which SN-38, an active metabolite of Irinotecan, a Topoisomerase I inhibitor, is coupled to the humanized Anti-Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) monoclonal antibody (hRS7 IgG1κ), through the cleavable CL2A linker. SN-38 cannot be given directly to patients because of its toxicity and poor solubility. Trop-2, a transmembrane calcium signal transducer, stimulates cancer-cell growth, and this cell surface receptor is overexpressed in several epithelial cancers including cancers of the breast, colon and lung, and has limited expression in normal human tissues. Trop-2 is expressed in more than 85% of breast tumors including Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Upon binding to Trop-2, the anti-TROP-2 monoclonal antibody is internalized and delivers SN-38 directly into the tumor cell, making it a suitable transporter for the delivery of cytotoxic drugs. Further, the cleavable linker enables SN-38 to be released both intracellularly into the tumor cells, as well as the tumor microenvironment, thereby allowing for the delivery of therapeutic concentrations of the active drug in bystander cells to which the conjugate has not bound. Thus, TRODELVY®-bound tumor cells are killed by intracellular uptake of SN-38, whereas the adjacent tumor cells are killed by the extracellular release of SN-38.

TRODELVY® was approved by the FDA in 2021 for patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease. In the IMMU-132 Phase I/II study, the Hormone Receptor positive (HR+)/HER2-negative cohort of patients with metastatic breast cancer patients had an Objective Response Rate (ORR) of 31.5%, median Progression Free Survival (PFS) of 5.5 months and median Overall Survival (OS) of 12 months, with manageable toxicities, when treated with TRODELVY®.

TROPiCS-02 is a global, open-label, randomized, Phase III study, conducted to confirm the benefit of TRODELVY® in HR+/HER2- negative advanced breast cancer. In this study, 543 patients with HR+/HER2-negative, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive TRODELVY® 10 mg/kg IV on D1 and 8, every 21 days (N=272), or treatment of physician’s choice, which included single agent treatment with either Capecitabine, Eribulin, Vinorelbine, or Gemcitabine (N=271). Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Both treatment groups were well balanced. Eligible patients had 3 median prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic breast cancer, and one prior therapy for metastatic breast cancer was allowed if disease progressed in 12 months or less after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were required to have received endocrine therapy, a CDK4/6 inhibitor and at least one prior therapy with a Taxane in any setting. Majority of patients had visceral metastases (95%), 86% had prior endocrine therapy for metastatic breast cancer for at least 6 months, and 60% and 38% received prior CDK4/6 inhibitors for 12 months or less, and for more than 12 months, respectively. The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS) by blinded Independent Central Review (final analysis) and key Secondary endpoint was Overall Survival (OS) at the first planned interim analysis.

The median Progression Free Survival was 5.5 months with TRODELVY® versus 4 months with standard chemotherapy (HR=0.66; P=0.0003), representing a 34% improvement in PFS with TRODELVY®. This benefit was seen across all treatment subgroups including those who were 65 years or older, those who were heavily pretreated, as well as those with visceral metastases. The Objective Response Rate (ORR) was 21% with TRODELVY® versus 14% with standard chemotherapy. The Clinical Benefit Rate was also higher with TRODELVY® versus standard chemotherapy (34% versus 22%) and median duration of response was 7.4 months and 5.6 months respectively. Overall Survival data were immature, but there was a numerical, non-significant improvement in the median Overall Survival noted in the TRODELVY® group, compared to the standard chemotherapy group (13.9 months versus 12.3 months; HR=0.84; P=0.14), respectively. Treatment with TRODELVY® also resulted in an overall health-related Quality of Life benefit over chemotherapy, with delayed deterioration in fatigue and global health status/ Quality of Life scales, according to the researchers. Grade 3 or more adverse events were observed in 74% of patients receiving TRODELVY® and in 60% of those receiving chemotherapy, and the most common toxicities associated with TRODELVY® were diarrhea and neutropenia.

It was concluded from this landmark analysis that treatment with TRODELVY® resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in Progression Free Survival, compared to standard chemotherapy, in heavily pre-treated patients with HR+/HER2-negative, endocrine-resistant, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, and should therefore be considered as a new treatment option for this patient population.

Primary results from TROPiCS-02: A randomized phase 3 study of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) versus treatment of physician’s choice (TPC) in patients (Pts) with hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer. Rugo HS, Bardia A, Marmé F, et al. J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 17; abstr LBA1001)

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: Adagrasib in KRAS G12C Mutated Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

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SUMMARY: The American Cancer Society estimates that for 2022, about 236,740 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed and 135,360 patients will die of the disease. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Of the three main subtypes of NSCLC, 30% are Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC), 40% are Adenocarcinomas and 10% are Large Cell Carcinomas. With changes in the cigarette composition and decline in tobacco consumption over the past several decades, Adenocarcinoma now is the most frequent histologic subtype of lung cancer.

The KRAS (kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) proto-oncogene encodes a protein that is a member of the small GTPase super family. The KRAS gene provides instructions for making the KRAS protein, which is a part of a signaling pathway known as the RAS/MAPK pathway. By relaying signals from outside the cell to the cell nucleus, the protein instructs the cell to grow, divide and differentiate. The KRAS protein is a GTPase, and converts GTP into GDP. To transmit signals, the KRAS protein must be turned on by binding to a molecule of GTP. When GTP is converted to GDP, the KRAS protein is turned off or inactivated, and when the KRAS protein is bound to GDP, it does not relay signals to the cell nucleus. The KRAS gene is in the Ras family of oncogenes, which also includes two other genes, HRAS and NRAS. When mutated, oncogenes have the potential to change normal cells cancerous.

KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers and are often associated with resistance to targeted therapies and poor outcomes. The KRAS G12C mutation occurs in approximately 25% of Non Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLC) and in 3-5% of colorectal cancers and other solid cancers. KRAS G12C is one of the most prevalent driver mutations in NSCLC and accounts for a greater number of patients than those with ALK, ROS1, RET, and TRK 1/2/3 mutations combined. KRAS G12C cancers are genomically more heterogeneous and occur more frequently in current or former smokers, and are likely to be more complex genomically than EGFR mutant or ALK rearranged cancers. G12C is a single point mutation with a Glycine-to-Cysteine substitution at codon 12. This substitution favors the activated state of KRAS, resulting in a predominantly GTP-bound KRAS oncoprotein, amplifying signaling pathways that lead to oncogenesis.

Adagrasib is a potent, orally available, small molecule covalent inhibitor of KRAS G12C. This drug irreversibly and selectively binds KRAS G12C in its inactive, GDP-bound state. Unlike LUMAKRAS® (Sotorasib), which is also a selective covalent inhibitor of KRAS G12C, Adagrasib has a longer drug half-life of 23 hours, as compared to 5 hours for LUMAKRAS®, has dose-dependent extended exposure, and can penetrate the CNS. Approximately, 27-42% of patients with NSCLC harboring KRAS G12C mutations have CNS metastases, with poor outcomes.

KRYSTAL-1 is a Phase I/II multiple expansion cohort trial involving patients with advanced solid tumors harboring a KRAS G12C mutation. Adagrasib demonstrated clinical activity in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated solid tumors, including colorectal, pancreatic, and biliary tract cancers. Further, preliminary data from two patients with untreated CNS metastases from a Phase 1b cohort showed antitumor activity against CNS metastases, with satisfactory concentrations of Adagrasib in the CSF.

The researchers in this publication reported the results from Cohort A, a Phase 2 cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study in which Adagrasib at a dose of 600 mg orally twice daily was evaluated in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, previously treated with chemotherapy and anti-Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) or Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy. This registration study included a total of 116 unresectable or metastatic NSCLC patients, with histologically confirmed diagnosis, with KRAS G12C mutation (detected in tumor tissue at a local or central laboratory), who had previously received treatment with at least one platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen and checkpoint inhibitor therapy (in sequence or concurrently), and who had measurable tumor lesions. Enrolled patients received Adagrasib 600 mg capsule twice daily, and treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. The median patient age was 64 years, 97% had adenocarcinoma histology, 98% had both platinum based therapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy, and 21% of patients had CNS metastases. Key exclusion criteria included active CNS metastases (patients were eligible if CNS metastases were adequately treated and neurologically stable), carcinomatous meningitis, and previous treatment with a KRAS G12C inhibitor. Exploratory Biomarker Analyses included candidate biomarkers (PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score and mutational status of STK11, KEAP1, TP53, and CDKN2A on tumor-tissue specimens, blood specimens, or both, for their association with tumor response. The Primary end point was Objective Response Rate as assessed by blinded Independent Central Review. Secondary end points included the Duration of Response, Progression Free Survival, Overall Survival, and safety.

The median follow up was 12.9 months and the median duration of treatment was 5.7 months. The confirmed Objective Response Rate was 42.9% and the median Duration of Response was 8.5 months. The median Progression Free Survival was 6.5 months and the median Overall Survival was 12.6 months, at a median follow up of 15.6 months. Among 33 patients with previously treated, stable CNS metastases, the intracranial confirmed Objective Response Rate was 33.3%. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 97.4% of the patients and 53% were Grade 1 or 2 toxicities. Adagrasib was discontinued in 6.9% of patients due to adverse events.

It was concluded that among patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, Adagrasib showed significant clinical efficacy without new safety signals, and encouraging intracranial activity. The researchers added that these are the first clinical data demonstrating CNS-specific activity of a KRAS G12C inhibitor in this patient population.

Adagrasib in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Harboring a KRASG12C Mutation. Jänne PA, Riely GJ, Gadgeel SM, et al. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2204619

Late Breaking Abstract – ASCO 2022: Adjuvant Radiotherapy May Be Omitted in Select Patients with Luminal A Breast Cancer

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SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 290,560 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 and about 43,780 individuals will die of the disease, largely due to metastatic recurrence.

Patient undergoing breast conserving surgery, often receive adjuvant breast radiation therapy to reduce the risk of local recurrence. Radiation therapy however is inconvenient, expensive and is associated with acute and late toxicities. Previously published study by Kunkler IH, et al. (Lancet Oncol. 2015;16:266-273) concluded that radiotherapy could be avoided in a subset of elderly patients with low risk breast cancer following breast conserving surgery.

Molecular-Subtypes-of-Breast-CancerConventional clinical pathological factors have limited ability to identify breast cancer patients with low risk disease, who could avoid radiation therapy. Molecular defined intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer can provide additional prognostic information. Breast cancer is heterogeneous malignancy and using global gene expression analyses, 5 breast cancer intrinsic subtypes have been established. They include Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, Basal-like, and Normal breast-like group. Luminal A breast cancer patients have the lowest risk of recurrence. In a retrospective analysis of women over age 60 years, with Luminal A, Grade 1-2, T1N0 breast cancer, treated with breast conserving surgery and endocrine therapy alone, the local recurrence rate was low (JCO 2015; 33:2035). However, the utility of combining molecular subtype (Luminal A subtype) with clinical pathological factors, to guide radiotherapy decision-making, has not been prospectively evaluated.

LUMINA is a prospective multicenter single-arm, cohort study, in which 501 women, 55 years and older, who had undergone breast conserving surgery for breast cancer, were enrolled. Eligible patients had invasive ductal T1N0, Grade 1-2, Luminal A breast cancer, had undergone breast conserving surgery, with excision margins of at least 1 mm and sentinel lymph node biopsy, omitted radiotherapy, and had received adjuvant endocrine therapy for at least 5 years. Luminal A subtype was defined as ER 1% or more, PR more than 20%, HER2 negative and Ki67 13.25% or less. Ki67 immunohistochemistry was performed centrally in one of three Canadian laboratories using International Ki67 Working Group methods. The median patient age was 67 years, 66% had Grade 1 tumors, 88% of patients were less than 75 years, and the median tumor size was 1.1 cm. Patients were followed every six months for the first two years and then yearly. The Primary outcome was local recurrence defined as time from enrollment to any invasive or non-invasive cancer in the ipsilateral breast. Secondary endpoints included contralateral breast cancer, Relapse Free Survival (RFS) based on any recurrence, Disease Free Survival, and Overall Survival.

At a median follow up of 5 years, the local recurrence rate was 2.3% and the rate of contralateral breast cancer was 1.9%. The 5-year Relapse Free Survival, Disease Free Survival and Survival rate was 97.3%, 89.9% and 97.2% respectively.

The authors concluded that among women 55 years of age and over, with low grade Luminal A breast cancer, omission of radiation therapy following breast conserving surgery and treatment with endocrine therapy alone for 5 years or more, resulted in very low rates of local recurrence at 5 years. The researchers added that approximately 30,000-40,000 women per year in North America, predominantly in the US, could avoid the morbidity, expense, and inconvenience of radiotherapy.

LUMINA: A prospective trial omitting radiotherapy (RT) following breast conserving surgery (BCS) in T1N0 luminal A breast cancer (BC). Whelan TJ, Smith S, Nielsen TO, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17):LBA501. doi:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_suppl.LBA501