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e15074 Background: metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) still represents a medical challenge in cancer therapy. In recent years the introduction of new targeted therapies has radically changed the approach to the disease and patients outcome. Currently the therapeutic strongholds are TKIs directed against the VEGF family (sunitinib and sorafenib). The aim of our study is to evaluate the potential predictive and prognostic role of VEGF and VEGFR polymorphisms, in determining the clinical outcome of mRCC patients receiving first-line sunitinib Methods: 41 histologic samples (biopsies and surgical specimens) of mRCC patients were tested for VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGFR-1,2,3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Patients progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed for first line treatment. Results: VEGF A rs833061 C>T polymorphism was statistically significant in PFS (17 months for C vs 4 months for T; P = 0,0029) and OS (35,93 months for C vs 11 months for T; P = 0,0267). VEGF A rs699947 A>C was statistically significant for PFS (17 months for A vs 3,97 months for C; P = 0,0023) and OS (35,93 months for A vs 10,98 for C; P = 0,0272). VEGF A rs2010963 G>C was significant in PFS (16,98 months for G vs 4,65 for G/C vs 2,73 for C; P = 0,0188). VEGR3 rs6877011 C>G was significant in PFS (8,22 months for C vs 2,22 for C/G; P = 0,0361) and OS (35,93 months for C vs 12,08 for C/G; P = 0,0183). Conclusions: in our analysis patients with C polymorphism of rc833061, A polymorphism rs699947 and G polymorphism of rs2010963 seem to have a better PFS and OS in first line. These polymorphisms of the VEGF-A gene are probably connected with a better control of the neoangiogenesis process during TKIs therapy, maybe leading to vasculature normalization. Patients with C polymorphism of rs6877011 and G polymorphism of rs307822 seem equally to have a favourable impact in first line therapy. VEGFR-3 role is still matter of debate but seems to be involved in vessels sprouting and architecture.

449 Background: An aberrant activation of the EGFR downstream signaling pathway via MAP-kinase and Akt could be responsible for resistance to anti-EGFR treatment. We tested the interaction between phosphorylated Akt and MAPK in primary colorectal tumours and corresponding metastases and clinical outcome in terms of response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) to identify a group of patients more likely to benefit from EGFR-targeted treatment among those harbouring a K-RAS wild type status. Methods: Seventy-two advanced K-RAS wild type colorectal cancer patients treated with irinotecan-cetuximab were analysed. Primary tumour were available in all cases, whereas paired tumour samples from metastatic sites were available in 37 patients. Phosphorylated Akt and MAPK were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Akt resulted overexpressed in 31 primary tumours (43%) and 23 metastases (62%), whereas MAPK was over-expressed in 32 primary tumours (44%) and 20 metastases (54%). Akt altered expression in primary tumours correlated with a statistically significant worse median PFS (2.4 months vs. 6.5 months, p= 0.0006) and OS (7.8 months vs. 26.7 months, p < 0.0001), without any significant correlation with RR. No significant correlation could be found between MAPK expression in primary tumours and RR, PFS or OS. In metastases Akt expression correlated with RR (9% vs, 58%, p= 0.004), PFS (2.3 months vs.9.2 months p < 0.0001) and OS (6.1 months vs.26.7 months p < 0.0001). Analogously MAPK expression in metastases correlated with RR (10% vs, 47%, p = 0.002), PFS (2.3 months vs.8.6 months p < 0.0001) and OS (7.8 months vs.26 months p = 0.0004). At multivariate analysis Akt and MAPK status in metastases was able to independently predict PFS. Akt status in metastases independently correlated with RR as well. Conclusions: We suggest that Akt and MAPK expression in metastases may have a relevant role in determining the activity of anti-EGFR treatment strategies. Our observations seem also to indicate that for some molecular determinants of resistance the biological profile in metastases is prominent.

568 Background: Preclinical data suggest that treatment with lapatinib may reinduce sensitivity to trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer cells (Scaltriti, Oncogene 2009;28:803). We evaluated the activ...