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517 Background: The relationship between toxicity from chemotherapy and clinical outcome in biliary tract cancer (BTC) is uncertain. Aim: This post hoc analysis evaluated differences by sex in the frequency of adverse events (AEs) and overall survival (OS) and its impact on progression-free survival (PFS)/recurrence-free survival (RFS) for BTC patients. Methods: Individual patient data were retrieved from ABC -01, -02, -03, -04, and BILCAP study. AEs were graded according to National Cancer Institute's Common Toxicity Criteria v 4.02 and odds ratios along with 95%CI and p-values derived from logistic regression were used to assess the effect of sex on the risk of AEs. Time to event outcomes were evaluated using Cox regression and plotted using Kaplan-Meier plots. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Overall 994 patients-data were examined: 86 in ABC-01, 324 in-02, 124 in -03, 13 in -04 and 447 in BILCAP. A total of 484 (49%) were males (M) and 510 (51%) were females (F). 770 patients were evaluable for AEs because a total of 224 patients in BILCAP study belonged to the observation group. Urinary tract infection (M, 1.6%; F, 5.5%), nausea (M, 50.7%; F, 69.9%), vomiting (M, 29.1%; F, 46.1%), alopecia (M, 11.3%; F, 27.3%), are dominant in F, hyperbilirubinaemia (M, 36.7%; F, 29.1%) and thrombocytopenia (M, 43.1%; F, 34.3%) and hiccups (M, 2.4%; F, 0.5%) are dominant in M at any grade. Vomiting (M, 3.5%; F, 7.0%) and fatigue (M, 4.0%; F, 8.5%) are higher in F than in M for grade 3-5. The median OS (M, 16.2 months (Mo); F, 17.5 Mo), PFS (M, 6.4 Mo; F, 6.5 Mo) and RFS (M, 20.8 Mo; F 19.4 Mo) were similar. Amongst the subgroup of patients with gallbladder, F achieved longer OS (M, 11.5 Mo; F 13.3 Mo, 0.73 (95%CI:0.54,0.99), p = 0.041) and RFS than M (M, 20.8 Mo; median PFS for F not reached, HR:0.52 (95%CI:0.27,1.02), p = 0.057). Conclusions: Females with BTC have tended to have more AEs, especially grade 3+. Although no difference was observed in OS, PFS, and RFS between males and females for the overall cohort of patients, females with gallbladder cancer had an improved OS and RFS compared with males. These findings suggest, in BTC, sex may play a role when designing clinical trials as well as in making treatment decisions.

e16151Background: The BILCAP study established capecitabine (cape) as adjuvant therapy for patients with curatively resected biliary tract cancer. An unexpected finding was the apparent lack of ben...

e16132Background: The BILCAP study outcome placed adjuvant capecitabine (cape) as the standard of care following curative surgery for biliary tract cancer (BTC). We present exploratory analyses of ...

e17035 Background: Vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is predominantly a disease of the elderly; with three-quarters of cases occurring in those aged over 60 years. Currently, chemotherapy is only used as an adjunct to surgery in advanced disease or for palliation. Unfortunately, the treatment response of VSCC to chemotherapies is variable, and toxicity remains a major problem, rendering it unsuitable for most patients. Dysregulation of the Hedgehog (HH) pathway has been described in many cancers, and HH inhibitors are being employed for the treatment of many cancers displaying aberrant pathway activation. To this end, we set out to evaluate 1) whether the HH pathway is dysregulated in VSCC and 2) the therapeutic utility of using HH inhibitors in the treatment of VSCC. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of HH pathway components was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of a well-characterized cohort of 201 patients with primary VSCC. Expression of HH pathway proteins was then correlated with clinico-pathological data, disease recurrence and survival. A panel of VSCC-derived cell lines was examined for HH pathway activity using an HH-GLI luciferase reporter assay. The effects of HH inhibitors on the growth and viability of VSCC cell lines, alone and in combination with cisplatin, was examined by BrdU label incorporation and XTT viability assays. Results: The HH signaling pathway was found to be over-expressed in approximately 80% of VSCC cases. Moreover, patients whose tumours displayed Sonic HH (SHH) ligand overexpression were more likely to develop a local recurrence within 3 years. Two HH inhibitors, Itraconazole and LDE225, not only inhibited the growth of VSCC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, but also sensitized cells to the genotoxic affects of Cisplatin. Conclusions: We have shown for the first time that HH pathway is overexpressed in VSCC and that SHH overexpression may serve as a useful biomarker to predict local disease recurrence. In addition, results from our laboratory studies have shown that HH inhibitors may be used as a neo-adjuvant therapy to augment the actions of chemotherapeutic agents in this disease.

4006 Background: Despite improvements in multidisciplinary management, BTC has a poor outcome. Approximately 20% of cases are suitable for surgical resection with a 5 year survival of < 10%. BILCAP aimed to determine whether capecitabine (Cape) improves overall survival (OS) compared to observation (Obs) following radical surgery. Methods: Patients with completely-resected cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or gallbladder cancer (including liver and pancreatic resection, as appropriate), with adequate biliary drainage, no ongoing infection, adequate renal, haematological and liver function, and ECOG PS ≤2, were randomized 1:1 to Cape (1250 mg/m2 D1-14 every 21 days, for 8 cycles) or Obs. Randomization was minimized on tumor site, resection status, ECOG PS and surgical center. The primary outcome was OS in the intention to treat (ITT) population. 410 patients were needed to detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.69 (2-sided α = 0.05 and 80% power). HR was estimated by Cox survival model with adjustment for the minimization factors. Primary analysis performed with at least 24 months (m) follow-up. Results: 447 participants were randomized to Cape (n = 223) or Obs (n = 224) from 44 UK sites between 2006-2014. Median age was 63y (IQR 55, 69) and 201 (45%), 232 (52%), and 14 (3%) patients were ECOG PS 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Primary site: 84 (19%) intrahepatic, 128 (28%) hilar, 156 (35%) extrahepatic CCA and 79 (18%) muscle-invasive gallbladder cancers. Resection margins: R0 in 279 (62%) and R1 in 168 (38%); 207 (46%) were node-negative. Follow up was at least 36m in > 80% of surviving patients. By ITT analysis (n = 447), median OS was 51m (95%CI 35, 59) for Cape and 36m (95%CI 30, 45) for Obs, HR 0.80 (95%CI 0.63, 1.04; p = 0.097). Sensitivity analyses with adjustment for nodal status, grade of disease and gender indicated HR 0.71 (95%CI 0.55, 0.92 p < 0.01). In the per-protocol analysis (Cape n = 210, Obs n = 220) median OS was 53m (95%CI 40, NR) for Cape and 36m (95%CI 30, 44) for Obs, HR 0.75 (95%CI 0.58, 0.97; p = 0.028). Median RFS (ITT) was 25m (95%CI 19, 37) for Cape and 18m (95%CI 13, 28) for Obs. Grade 3-4 toxicity was less than anticipated. Conclusions: Cape improves OS in BTC when used as adjuvant and should become standard of care. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN72785446.

e15093 Background: Factors that influence prognosis in HCC are well-recognised. They include tumour size and number, the severity of liver dysfunction and the symptomology. Several staging systems combining a number of these factors offer an estimate of prognosis. Some concerned that these staging systems encompass factors that are inherently subjective, e.g. the extent of HCC in CLIP or the use of performance status in BCLC. This have led to the development BALAD score by Toyoda et al, using serum Bilirubin and Albumin and three biomarkers: alpha-fetoprotein-L3 (L3), Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP). This system was developed in a Japanese population which has mainly HCV-related HCC. Our aim was to develop an objective staging system using the three biomarkers for a western population and compared it to BALAD to assess its performance. Methods: 317 subjects with HCC were recruited from Birmingham, UK between 2007 and 2011. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis. Liver, renal functions plus AFP, L3 and DCP were measured. L3 and DCP were measured by microchip capillary electrophoresis and liquid-phase binding assay on a uTASWako i30 auto analyzer (Wako Pure Chemical Industries Ltd, Japan). Results: Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed. Our scoring system (CRCTU score) was developed based on a flexible baseline hazard functions fitted using restricted cubic splines. Suitable fractional polynomials (FP) were used to explain relationship between the outcome and covariates. The level of discrimination achieved using the risk groups was assess by Harrell’s–C statistic. The CRCTU score permitted identification of 4 clearly distinct subgroups as indicated both graphically and by Harrell’s-C values. Both the CRCTU and BALAD scores return Harrell’s-C values of 0.7. Conclusions: We have shown that it is possible to use entirely objective markers to predict prognosis of HCC in a western population. Our model is comparable to the BALAD with the same variables included. However, our treatment of variables with FP is much more robust statistical technique for continuous variable as compared to having artificial categories that were seen in the BALAD system.

TPS4150 Background: TACE is regarded as the standard of care for patients with intermediate stage HCC (BCLC B), while sorafenib (S) is the current standard for advanced disease (BCLC C). The combination of S with TACE for intermediate disease is rational since sorafenib inhibits the action of VEGF which may be induced by tumour hypoxia following TACE, and S also has direct anti-tumour effect. The combination has been shown to be safe in and active in phase I and II studies. Phase III trials are now required to determine whether TACE + S is superior to TACE alone in terms of survival. Methods: We are conducting a double blind multicentre trial to determine if the addition of S to TACE is superior to TACE alone. This is a UK NCRI trial sponsored by University College London (UCL) (EudraCT 2008-005073-36). Patients with intermediate stage HCC are randomised 1:1 to continuous S (400mg BD) or placebo (P). Key inclusion criteria include unresectable HCC confined to the liver, patent main portal vein, ECOG PS ≤1 and Child Pugh A liver score. After randomisation patients commence study drug and TACE is performed at 2-5 weeks using drug eluting beads loaded with 150mg doxorubicin (Biocompatibles UK Ltd) according to a standard protocol. Further TACE is performed at the discretion of the investigator based on radiological response and patient tolerance. The primary outcome measure is progression free survival and central, external, real time radiology review is required to confirm progression. Secondary outcome measures are overall survival, time to progression, toxicity, disease control, quality of life and number of TACE procedures performed in 12 months. The target recruitment is 412 in order to detect a hazard ratio of 0.72 using a 2-sided level of significance of α=0.05 with 85% power. The trial was reviewed by the IDMC after the presentation of the SPACE trial (Lencioni et al J Clin Oncol 30, 2012). The IDMC concurred with the conclusion of the SPACE investigators that the combination is tolerated and results required confirmation in a phase III trial. Thus recruitment into the TACE2 trial will continue as planned.