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Benefit from maintenance in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC) might favor switch maintenance after disease stabilization (SD) and continuation after objective response (OR). This trial assessed a maintenance strategy conditioned by response to cisplatin-gemcitabine (CG) with G continuation for patients with OR or switch to pemetrexed (P) for patients with SD as compared with a control arm based on the Paramount regimen.Eligibility criteria: age 18-70 years, ECOG PS 0-1, untreated stage IV NS-NSCLC without EGFR or ALK alteration, ineligibility to bevacizumab. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either CG (4 cycles) followed by G maintenance in case of OR followed by P at progression, or switch to P for patients with SD, or 4 cycles of CP followed by P (control arm). Primary endpoint: overall Survival.Between 2012 and 2016, 932 patients were randomized (CG: 467, CP: 465) with well-balanced characteristics. 257 patients (56.7%) in the CG arm received maintenance (G: 142, P: 113) versus 277 patients (59.7%) in the CP arm. Median number of maintenance cycles was 5 for G and P (CG induction) and 4 for P (CP induction). OS adjusted HR was 0.97 (95% CI 0.84, 1.13; p = 0.71) with a median of 10.9 months (CG) versus 10.4 (CP). HR for PFS was 0.95 (95% CI 0.83, 1.09; p = 0.45) with a median of 4.8 months for CG versus 4.5 for CP. Safety profile was as expected.Adapting maintenance strategy according to response to induction chemotherapy does not improve patient outcome.NCT01631136.

Background: dNLR at the baseline (B), defined by neutrophils/[leucocytes-neutrophils], correlates with immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) outcomes in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). However, dNLR is dynamic under therapy and its longitudinal assessment may provide data predicting efficacy. We sought to examine the impact of dNLR dynamics on ICI efficacy and understand its biological significance. Patients and methods: aNSCLC patients receiving ICI at 17 EU/US centres were included [Feb/13-Jun/18]. As chemotherapy-only group was evaluated (NCT02105168). dNLR was determined at (B) and at cycle2 (C2) [dNLR

Following the American National Lung Screening Trial results in 2011 a consortium of French experts met to edit a statement. Recent results of other randomized trials gave the opportunity for our group to meet again in order to edit updated guidelines. After literature review, we provide here a new update on lung cancer screening in France. Notably, in accordance with all international guidelines, the experts renew their recommendation in favor of individual screening for lung cancer in France as per the conditions laid out in this document. In addition, the experts recommend the very rapid organization and funding of prospective studies, which, if conclusive, will enable the deployment of lung cancer screening organized at the national level.

ERBB4 fusion is a rare, novel oncogenic event involved in the development of lung adenocarcinoma that is not routinely looked for, although ERBB4 fusion is a potential target for existing pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase and must be implemented in the laboratory https://bit.ly/3nYmGQ9.

PURPOSE Hyperprogressive disease (HPD), fast progression (FP), and early death (ED) have been described in 13.8%, 4.7%, and 5.6% and in 5.1%, 2.8%, and 6.8%, respectively, of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with single-agent programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitors (ICI) or chemotherapy, respectively. Whether FP/ED and HPD represent overlapping patterns is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS FP, ED, and HPD were retrospectively assessed in patients with NSCLC treated with single-agent ICI or chemotherapy. Eligibility required 2 computed tomography (CT) scans before and 1 CT scan during treatment. (1) HPD, (2) FP, (3) ED were defined as (1) RECIST version 1.1 progression at first CT scan and tumor growth rate variation per month > 50%, (2) ≥ 50% increase in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions within 6 weeks from baseline, and (3) death as a result of radiologic progression within 12 weeks from baseline CT scan, respectively. RESULTS Of 406 ICI-treated NSCLC, 56 patients (13.8%), 9 patients (2.2%), and 36 patients (8.8%) were HPD, FP, and ED, respectively. Eight (14.2%) and 20 (35.7%) of 56 patients with HPD were also FP and ED. ED significantly correlated with baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2 compared with HPD (33% v 13%, P = .02). Overall survival was significantly longer for HPD (3.4 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 4.0 months]) compared with FP (0.7 months [95% CI, 0.6 to 0.8 months]); HR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.08 to 0.42]; P < .0001) and ED (1.4 months [95% CI, 1.3 to 1.6 months]); HR, 0.19 [95% CI, 0.11 to 0.34]); P < .0001), whereas it did not differ between FP and ED (HR, 1.3 [95% CI, 0.56 to 3.0]; P = .55). Of 59 patients with NSCLC treated with single-agent chemotherapy, the HPD, FP, and ED rates were 5.1%, 1.7%, and 6.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION FP, ED, and HPD represent distinct progression patterns with limited overlap and different survival outcomes.

Contains fulltext : 215810.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Anti-PD1/PD-L1 directed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are widely used to treat patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The activity of ICI across NSCLC harboring oncogenic alterations is poorly characterized. The aim of our study was to address the efficacy of ICI in the context of oncogenic addiction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study for patients receiving ICI monotherapy for advanced NSCLC with at least one oncogenic driver alteration. Anonymized data were evaluated for clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes for ICI therapy: best response (RECIST 1.1), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) from ICI initiation. The primary end point was PFS under ICI. Secondary end points were best response (RECIST 1.1) and OS from ICI initiation. RESULTS: We studied 551 patients treated in 24 centers from 10 countries. The molecular alterations involved KRAS (n = 271), EGFR (n = 125), BRAF (n = 43), MET (n = 36), HER2 (n = 29), ALK (n = 23), RET (n = 16), ROS1 (n = 7), and multiple drivers (n = 1). Median age was 60 years, gender ratio was 1 : 1, never/former/current smokers were 28%/51%/21%, respectively, and the majority of tumors were adenocarcinoma. The objective response rate by driver alteration was: KRAS = 26%, BRAF = 24%, ROS1 = 17%, MET = 16%, EGFR = 12%, HER2 = 7%, RET = 6%, and ALK = 0%. In the entire cohort, median PFS was 2.8 months, OS 13.3 months, and the best response rate 19%. In a subgroup analysis, median PFS (in months) was 2.1 for EGFR, 3.2 for KRAS, 2.5 for ALK, 3.1 for BRAF, 2.5 for HER2, 2.1 for RET, and 3.4 for MET. In certain subgroups, PFS was positively associated with PD-L1 expression (KRAS, EGFR) and with smoking status (BRAF, HER2). CONCLUSIONS: : ICI induced regression in some tumors with actionable driver alterations, but clinical activity was lower compared with the KRAS group and the lack of response in the ALK group was notable. Patients with actionable tumor alterations should receive targeted therapies and chemotherapy before considering immunotherapy as a single agent.

BackgroundIn recent years, the gut microbiome has increasingly emerged as influencing the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).1–3 Antibiotic (ABX) exposure, that leads to microbiome dysbiosis, was further shown in numerous studies to adversely influence the clinical outcomes of cancer patients treated with ICIs, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).4–6We published in 2020 a meta-analysis confirming that ABX use could hamper survival of NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.7 The present study aims at updating this prior work by incorporating studies published until July 2021 and by studying new clinical outcomes.MethodsPubMed and major oncology conferences’ proceedings were systematically searched to identify studies assessing the impact of ABX on the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. Studies were included when reporting a hazard ratio (HR) or Kaplan–Meier curves for Overall Survival (OS) or Progression-Free Survival (PFS) based on antibiotic exposure, and/or data on treatment response such as Overall Response Rate (ORR) and Progressive Disease Rate (PD) according to antibiotic exposure. Pooled HRs for OS and PFS and Odds Ratios (OR) for ORR and PD were calculated, as well as HRs for OS and PFS according to different time windows of ABX exposure.ResultsOverall, 35 independent cohorts were included for a total of 12,235 patients. The pooled HRs for OS (12,235 patients) and PFS (5,356 patients) were 1.63 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.37–1.94] and 1.49 [95% CI 1.26–1.76], respectively, confirming a significantly reduced survival in patients exposed to ABX. The subgroup analyses of OS and PFS based on the time window of ABX exposure (figures 1 and 2) suggest a harmful effect of ABX when taken around ICI initiation. The pooled OR for ORR (1,992 patients) and PD (1,272 patients) were 0.66 [95% CI 0.44–0.99] and 1.98 [95% CI 1.39–2.8], respectively, reflecting both a decreased odd of treatment response and an almost two-fold increased odd of cancer progression among ABX users (figures 3 and 4). These findings confirm the previously reported deleterious effect of ABX on all clinical outcomes (table 1).Abstract 278 Figure 1Forest plot of hazard ratios for overall survival of patients diagnosed with NSCLC and exposed to antibiotics versus not exposed to antibiotics, according to the time window of antibiotic exposureAbstract 278 Figure 2Forest plot of hazard ratios for progression-free survival of patients diagnosed with NSCLC and exposed to antibiotics versus not exposed to antibiotics, according to the time window of antibiotic exposureAbstract 278 Figure 3Forest plot of odds ratios for overall response rate of patients diagnosed with NSCLC and exposed to antibiotics versus not exposed to antibioticsAbstract 278 Figure 4Forest plot of odds ratios for progressive disease rate of patients diagnosed with NSCLC and exposed to antibiotics versus not exposed to antibioticsAbstract 278 Table 1Summary of the impact of antibiotic use on all clinical outcomesConclusionsAntibiotics were shown to impair clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients treated with ICIs in this study. Two (non mutually exclusive) mechanisms are increasingly discussed in the literature to explain the role of microbiome on immunotherapy response: the immunomodulatory effects of bacterial molecules,8 and antigenic mimicry between commensal bacteria and tumor antigens cross reactive for the same antigen specific T cells.9 10ReferencesGopalakrishnan V, Spencer CN, Nezi L, Reuben A, Andrews MC, Karpinets TV, et al. Gut microbiome modulates response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients. Science 5 January 2018;359(6371):97–103.Routy B, Le Chatelier E, Derosa L, Duong CPM, Alou MT, Daillère R, et al. Gut microbiome influences efficacy of PD-1-based immunotherapy against epithelial tumors. Science 5 January 2018;359(6371):91–7. Matson V, Fessler J, Bao R, Chongsuwat T, Zha Y, Alegre M-L, et al. The commensal microbiome is associated with anti-PD-1 efficacy in metastatic melanoma patients. Science 5 January 2018;359(6371):104–8. Derosa L, Hellmann MD, Spaziano M, Halpenny D, Fidelle M, Rizvi H, et al. Negative association of antibiotics on clinical activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced renal cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol Off J Eur Soc Med Oncol 1 June 2018;29(6):1437–44.Pinato DJ, Howlett S, Ottaviani D, Urus H, Patel A, Mineo T, et al. Association of prior antibiotic treatment with survival and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with cancer. JAMA Oncol 1 Décember 2019;5(12):1774–8.Rounis K, Makrakis D, Papadaki C, Monastirioti A, Vamvakas L, Kalbakis K, et al. Prediction of outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with second line PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors based on clinical parameters: results from a prospective, single institution study. PloS One 2021;16(6):e0252537.Lurienne L, Cervesi J, Duhalde L, de Gunzburg J, Andremont A, Zalcman G, et al. NSCLC immunotherapy efficacy and antibiotic use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Thorac Oncol Off Publ Int Assoc Study Lung Cancer July 2020;15(7):1147–59.Sepich-Poore GD, Zitvogel L, Straussman R, Hasty J, Wargo JA, Knight R. The microbiome and human cancer. Science 26 March 2021;371(6536):eabc4552.Fluckiger A, Daillère R, Sassi M, Sixt BS, Liu P, Loos F, et al. Cross-reactivity between tumor MHC class I-restricted antigens and an enterococcal bacteriophage. Science 21 août 2020;369(6506):936–42.Bessell CA, Isser A, Havel JJ, Lee S, Bell DR, Hickey JW, et al. Commensal bacteria stimulate antitumor responses via T cell cross-reactivity. JCI Insight 23 avr 2020;5(8):135597.

The high prevalence of lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (3–30%) has been confirmed by several studies, pointing to specific diagnostic and therapeutic issues. The co-occurrence is associated with worse survival than with each disease alone [1]. Because cigarette smoking is a risk factor for both diseases, smoking is an ideal culprit for their co-occurrence, despite several common pathogenic mechanisms such as common genetic risk factors., Germline surfactant-associated genes mutations are associated with ILD and increased risk of lung cancer https://bit.ly/3CkkXgD

HypothesisCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in a 30% mortality rate in thoracic cancer patients. Given that cancer patients were excluded from serum anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccine registration trials, it is still unknown whether they would develop a protective anti-spike antibody response following vaccination. This prospective vaccine monitoring study primarily aimed to assess humoral responses to SARS-CoV2 vaccine in thoracic cancer patients.MethodsSARS-CoV2-spike antibodies were measured using Abbot ARCHITECT SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunoassay, prior to first injection of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, as well as at Week 4, and two-to-sixteen weeks after second vaccine dose. The factors associated with antibody response were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 306 patients, with a median age of 67.0 years (IQR=58-74), were vaccinated. Of these, 283 patients received two vaccine doses at 28-day intervals. After 4.7-month median follow-up, seven patients (2.3%) contracted proven symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, with rapid favorable evolution. Of 269 serological results available beyond Day 14 post-second vaccine dose, 17 (6.3%) were still negative (%)were thpercentile). In multivariate analysis, only age and chronic corticosteroid treatment were significantly associated with a lack of immunization. Thirty patients received a third vaccine dose, with only three patients showing persistent negative serology thereafter, whereas the others demonstrated clear seroconversion.ConclusionSARS-CoV2 vaccines were shown to be efficient in thoracic cancer patients, most of them being immunized after two doses. A third shot given to 1% of patients with persistent low antibody titers resulted in a 88% immunization rate.

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 resulted in a 30% mortality rate in patients with thoracic cancer. Given that patients with cancer were excluded from serum antisevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine registration trials, it is still unknown whether they would develop a protective antispike antibody response after vaccination. This prospective vaccine monitoring study primarily aimed to assess humoral responses to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with thoracic cancer. Methods SARS-CoV-2–spike antibodies were measured using the Abbot Architect SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G immunoassay before the first injection of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, at week 4, and 2 to 16 weeks after the second vaccine dose administration. The factors associated with antibody response were analyzed. Results Overall, 306 patients, with a median age of 67.0 years (interquartile range: 58–74), were vaccinated. Of these, 283 patients received two vaccine doses at 28-day intervals. After a 6.7-month median follow-up, eight patients (2.6%) contracted proven symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, with rapid favorable evolution. Of the 269 serologic results available beyond day 14 after the second vaccine dose administration, 17 patients (6.3%) were still negative (

CERVOXY CLIN; International audience; Background - Anticancer immune responses are negatively regulated by programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) T-cell membrane protein interaction with its ligand, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), on cancer cells. We sought to assess the prognostic role of PD-L1 expression in tumor samples from patients enrolled onto the IFCT-0701 MAPS randomized phase 3 trial (NCT00651456). Patients and methods - Tumor samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for percentages of PD-L1 membrane-stained tumor cells using the E1L3N clone, and data were correlated to survival by multivariate Cox models including stratification variables. Results - PD-L1 staining was assessed in 214 (47.75%) of 448 patients. Epithelioid subtype represented 83.7% (179/214). Absence of PD-L1 staining occurred in 137 (64.1%) of 214 malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) samples, while 77 (35.9%) of 214 were PD-L1 positive, with 50 (64.9%) of 77 showing < 50% PD-L1-expressing tumor cells. Sarcomatoid/biphasic subtypes were more commonly PD-L1 positive than epithelioid subtype (P < .001). In patients with 1% or more PD-L1-stained tumor cells, median overall survival (OS) was 12.3 months versus 22.2 months for other patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.67; P = .14). OS did not differ according to PD-L1 positivity in multivariate analyses (adjusted HR = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.81-1.49; P = .55). With a 50% cutoff, PD-L1-positive patients displayed a 10.5 months median OS versus 19.3 months for patients with lower PD-L1 expression (HR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.27-2.93; P = .002). OS did not significantly differ in adjusted Cox models (adjusted HR = 1.20; 95% CI, 0.74-1.94; P = .47). In the 179 epithelioid MPM patients, high PD-L1 staining (≥ 50% of tumor cells) negatively affected OS, although not significantly, showing a 12.3-month median OS (95% CI, 4.3-21.6) versus 23-month (95% CI, 18.5-25.2) for patients with tumor PD-L1 staining in < 50% cells (P = .071). The progression-free survival (PFS) differences were statistically significant, with a longer 9.9-month median PFS in patients with low PD-L1 staining (< 50% cells) compared to 6.7 months of median PFS in patients with high PD-L1 expression (≥ 50% cells) (P = .0047). Conclusion - Although high PD-L1 tumor cell expression was associated with poorer OS in MPM patients from the MAPS trial, its prognostic influence was lost in multivariate analyses in the whole cohort, while PD-L1 expression was strongly associated with the sarcomatoid/biphasic subtypes. In the epithelioid MPM subset of patients, high PD-L1 tumor expression (≥ 50%) negatively affected OS and PFS, with this prognostic influence remaining statistically significant for PFS after adjustment in multivariate Cox model.

Resume Etat des connaissances Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) est une proteine membranaire facilitant l’echappement tumoral vis-a-vis de l’immunite. Le durvalumab est un anticorps monoclonal bloquant l’interaction PD-L1/PD-1 entre lymphocytes T et cellules tumorales, ayant montre des reponses durables et une toxicite acceptable en phase I/II dans les cancers bronchiques non a petites cellules (CBNPC) metastatiques. Methodes Dans cette etude de phase II, 3 perfusions de durvalumab (10 mg/kg a j1, j15, j29) sont administrees en neo-adjuvant a des patients ≥ 18 ans, indice de performance (PS) 0–1, ayant un CBNPC de stade clinique IB (> 4 cm) ou II. La chimiotherapie et la radiotherapie preoperatoire ne sont pas permises. L’objectif principal est la faisabilite d’une resection chirurgicale complete. Un taux de resection complete Resultats attendus L’immunotherapie neo-adjuvante est faisable et pourrait ameliorer la survie des CBNPC de stade precoce.

Anti-PD-1 antibodies prolong survival of performance status (PS) 0–1 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients. Their efficacy in PS 3–4 patients is unknown. Conse- cutive PS 3–4 aNSCLC patients receiving compassionate nivolumab were accrued by 12 French thoracic oncology departments, over 24 months. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic variables were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, 35 PS 3–4 aNSCLC patients (median age 65 years) received a median of 4 nivolumab infusions (interquartile range [IQR], 1–7) as first- (n = 6) or second-line (n = 29) therapy. At a median of 52-month follow-up (95%CI, 41–63), 32 (91%) patients had died. Median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95%CI, 1.1–3.2). Median OS was 4.4 months (95%CI, 0.5–8.2). Overall, 20% of patients were alive at 1 year, and 14% at 2 years. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 8/35 patients (23%), mostly of low-grade. After adjustment, brain metastases (HR = 5.2, 95%CI, 9–14.3, p = 0.001) and &lt, 20 pack-years (HR = 4.8, 95%CI, 1.7–13.8, p = 0.003) predicted worse survival. PS improvement from 3–4 to 0–1 (n = 9) led to a median 43-month (95%CI, 0–102) OS. Certain patients with very poor general condition could derive long-term benefit from nivolumab salvage therapy.

Background The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has been a breakthrough in the care of patients with non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). However, physicians are now facing a previously unidentified clinical situation called hyperprogression (HP), which presents as a fast and unexpected increase in tumor burden. HP’s existence and specificity to ICIs remains controversial because a widely acknowledged definition is currently lacking. Meanwhile, management remains elusive. Methods Medical records from all consecutive NSCLC patients who were treated with ICI from 2015 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The HP incidence rate was calculated according to five definitions (tumor growth rate [TGR]ratio, ΔTGR, tumor growth kinetic [TGK], RECIST, and time to treatment failure [TTF]), and the agreement between such definitions was determined. The HP impact on overall survival (OS) was then assessed. The association between HP (defined using the TGRratio definition) and clinical and biological variables was also assessed. Clinical HP management and its impact on outcomes were described. Results We identified 169 consecutive ICI-treated patients, with potential HP accounting for 11.3 %, 5.7 %, 17.0 %, 9.6 %, and 31.7 % patients, according to TGRratio, ΔTGR, TGK, RECIST, and TTF definitions. Agreement between the different HP definitions was highly heterogeneous (range 29 %–77 %) and globally poor. HP was associated with shorter OS, compared to standard RECIST progressive disease, but this difference only reached statistical significance when using the TTF definition. TGRratio-based HP was significantly associated with hepatic metastases. In TGRratio-based HP patients, neither resuming chemotherapy nor corticosteroids use was associated with statistically significant impact on overall survival. Conclusion We found fairly heterogeneous HP rates using different definitions. TTF was the only definition leading to significantly worsened OS. Further studies are needed to provide consensus recommendations for the assessment, definition, and management of HP, whose existence is likely real.

Etoposide-platinum (EP) chemotherapy has long been the reference treatment for grade 3 neuroendocrine neoplasms (G3 NEN). However, G3 NEN are heterogeneous, including well-differentiated tumors (NET) and poorly differentiated large (LCNEC) or small (SCNEC) cell carcinomas, whose response to EP chemotherapy varies considerably. Our aim was to evaluate predictive biomarkers for the response to EP chemotherapy in G3 NEN. We retrospectively studied 89 patients with lung (42%) and digestive (58%) G3 NEN treated by EP chemotherapy between 2006 and 2020. All cases were centrally reviewed for cytomorphology/Ki-67 and immunohistochemistry of retinoblastoma protein (Rb)/p53/p16, analyzed using a semi-quantitative score. The absence of Rb staining (Rbinap) or the absence of very intense p53 staining (p53inap) were considered inappropriate. Rb staining was also studied as a quantitative marker, the best threshold being determined by ROC curve. Intense p16 staining (p16high) also suggested cell cycle dysregulation. Our primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). We included 10 G3 NET, 31 LCNEC and 48 SCNEC, which showed ORR of 20%, 32% and 75%, respectively (NET vs. NEC, p = 0.040, LCNEC vs. SCNEC, p &lt, 0.001). The ORR was significantly higher in NEN presenting with Rbinap (63% vs. 42%, p = 0.025) and p16high (66% vs. 35%, p = 0.006). Rb &lt, 150 optimally identified responders (AUC = 0.657, p &lt, 0.001). The ORR was 67% in Rb &lt, 150 (vs. 25%, p = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, only Rb &lt, 150 was independently associated with ORR (OR 4.16, 95% CI 1.11–15.53, p = 0.034). We confirm the heterogeneity of the response to EP treatment in G3 NEN. Rb &lt, 150 was the best predictive biomarker for the response to EP, and p53 immunostaining had no additional value.

International audience; Bone is the most frequent metastasis site for breast cancer. As well as dramatically increasing disease burden, bone metastases are also an indicator of poor prognosis. One of the main challenges in investigating bone metastasis in breast cancer is engineering in vitro models that replicate the features of in vivo bone environments. Such in vitro models ideally enable the biology of the metastatic cells to mimic their in vivo behavior as closely as possible. Here, taking benefit of cutting-edge technologies both in microfabrication and cancer cell biology, we have developed an in vitro breast cancer bone-metastasis model. To do so we first 3D printed a bone scaffold that reproduces the trabecular architecture and that can be conditioned with osteoblast-like cells, a collagen matrix, and mineralized calcium. We thus demonstrated that this device offers an adequate soil to seed primary breast cancer bone metastatic cells. In particular, patient-derived xenografts being considered as a better approach than cell lines to achieve clinically relevant results, we demonstrate the ability of this biomimetic bone niche model to host patient-derived xenografted metastatic breast cancer cells. These patient-derived xenograft cells show a long-term survival in the bone model and maintain their cycling propensity, and exhibit the same modulated drug response as in vivo. This experimental system enables access to the idiosyncratic features of the bone microenvironment and cancer bone metastasis, which has implications for drug testing.

International audience; BackgroundIn the randomized phase 3 CheckMate 743 study (NCT02899299), NIVO + IPI significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) vs chemo in pts with unresectable MPM. Here we report updated efficacy and safety with a 3-y minimum follow-up (f/u), as well as novel biomarker analyses.MethodsPts with untreated MPM, stratified by histology (epithelioid vs non-epithelioid) and sex, were randomized 1:1 to NIVO 3 mg/kg Q2W + IPI 1 mg/kg Q6W (≤ 2 y) or to chemo Q3W (6 cycles). The primary endpoint was OS; safety and biomarker assessments were prespecified exploratory endpoints. OS association with a 4-gene inflammatory gene expression signature (CD8A, PD-L1, STAT-1, LAG-3) was estimated by RNA sequencing and categorized as high vs low relative to median score. Lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) score was based on baseline (BL) derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase levels.ResultsWith a minimum f/u of 35.5 mo (database lock [DBL] 7 May 2021), NIVO + IPI continued to provide OS benefit vs chemo (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.90; Table). In exploratory biomarker analyses, median OS was longer for pts with high vs low inflammatory gene signature score (21.8 vs 16.8 mo) in the NIVO + IPI arm; this signature score was not associated with prolonged OS for chemo. OS showed a trend favoring NIVO + IPI vs chemo across good, intermediate, and poor BL LIPI subgroups; HR (95% CI), 0.78 (0.60–1.01), 0.76 (0.57–1.01), and 0.83 (0.44–1.57), respectively. Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 30.7% (NIVO + IPI) and 32.0% (chemo) of pts; no increase was reported from the previous DBL. Table: LBA65Efficacy outcomes with NIVO + IPI vs chemoNIVO + IPI (n = 303) Chemo (n = 302)OS Median (95% CI), mo 18.1 (16.8–21.0) 14.1 (12.4–16.3)HR vs chemo (95% CI) 0.75 (0.63–0.90) —3-y OS rate (95% CI), % 23.2 (18.4–28.2) 15.4 (11.5–19.9)3-y PFS a rate (95% CI), % 13.6 (9.4–18.6) 0.8 (0.1–3.9)ORR a (95% CI), % 39.6 (34.1–45.4) 44.0 (38.4–49.8)DOR a,b Median (95% CI), mo 11.6 (8.2–16.8) 6.7 (5.6–7.1)3-y DOR rate, % 28 0aPer blinded independent central review; bCalculated in patients with a response (NIVO + IPI, n = 120; chemo, n = 133). DOR, duration of response; ORR, objective response rate; PFS, progression-free survival.ConclusionsWith a 3-y minimum f/u, NIVO + IPI continued to provide survival benefit vs chemo in pts with unresectable MPM despite pts being off therapy for 1 y; no new safety signals were observed. Exploratory analyses suggest that a high inflammatory gene signature score may correlate with improved survival benefit with NIVO + IPI.

Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represents a major breakthrough in lung cancer treatment. For patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and poor performance status (PS), the availability of sensitivity markers to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) would be useful for attending physicians and assist them in their decision-making process. Deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) can lead to high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and coexist with mutations in polymerase proofreading (DNA polymerase Epsilon POLE and delta 1 POLD1) with a specific mutational signature. This would result in high tumor mutational burden and programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpression. We report herein on a NSCLC case with MSI-H and POLE mutation in a patient with inaugural poor general condition, who exhibited prolonged response to anti-programmed cell death protein (PD-1) therapy. Additionally, there was a marked improvement of the patient's performance status, from PS 3 before ICI administration to PS 1 upon ICI therapy.

Background: Approved systemic treatments for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have been limited to chemotherapy regimens that have moderate survival benefit with poor outcomes. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab has shown clinical benefit in other tumour types, including first-line non-small-cell lung cancer. We hypothesised that this regimen would improve overall survival in MPM. Methods: This open-label, randomised, phase 3 study (CheckMate 743) was run at 103 hospitals across 21 countries. Eligible individuals were aged 18 years and older, with previously untreated, histologically confirmed unresectable MPM, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to nivolumab (3 mg/kg intravenously once every 2 weeks) plus ipilimumab (1 mg/kg intravenously once every 6 weeks) for up to 2 years, or platinum plus pemetrexed chemotherapy (pemetrexed [500 mg/m2 intravenously] plus cisplatin [75 mg/m2 intravenously] or carboplatin [area under the concentration-time curve 5 mg/mL per min intravenously]) once every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival among all participants randomly assigned to treatment, and safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02899299, and is closed to accrual. Findings: Between Nov 29, 2016, and April 28, 2018, 713 patients were enrolled, of whom 605 were randomly assigned to either nivolumab plus ipilimumab (n=303) or chemotherapy (n=302). 467 (77%) of 605 participants were male and median age was 69 years (IQR 64–75). At the prespecified interim analysis (database lock April 3, 2020; median follow-up of 29·7 months [IQR 26·7–32·9]), nivolumab plus ipilimumab significantly extended overall survival versus chemotherapy (median overall survival 18·1 months [95% CI 16·8–21·4] vs 14·1 months [12·4–16·2]; hazard ratio 0·74 [96·6% CI 0·60–0·91]; p=0·0020). 2-year overall survival rates were 41% (95% CI 35·1–46·5) in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab group and 27% (21·9–32·4) in the chemotherapy group. Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 91 (30%) of 300 patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and 91 (32%) of 284 treated with chemotherapy. Three (1%) treatment-related deaths occurred in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab group (pneumonitis, encephalitis, and heart failure) and one (

Background The phase I trial of the humanized anti-CD26 monoclonal antibody YS110 for CD26-expressing tumors was conducted recently. The present study identifies a potential prognostic biomarker for CD26-targeted therapy based on the phase I data. Methods Box and Whisker plot analysis, Scatter plot analysis, Peason product moment correlation/Spearman’s rank-difference correlation, Bar graph analysis, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) were used to examine the correlation between sCD26 titer variation with YS110 administration and tumor volume change, RECIST criteria evaluation and progression free survival (PFS). Mechanism for serum sCD26 titer variation was confirmed by in vitro experimentation. Results Serum sCD26/DPP4 titer was reduced following YS110 administration and gradually recovered until the next infusion. Serum sCD26/DPP4 titer before the next infusion was sustained at lower levels in Stable Disease (SD) cases compared to Progressive Disease cases. ROC analysis defined the cut-off level of serum sCD26/DPP4 titer variation at day 29 pre/post for the clinical outcome of SD as tumor response or PFS. In vitro experimentation confirmed that YS110 addition reduced sCD26 production from CD26-expressing tumor and non-tumor cells. Conclusions Our study indicates that serum sCD26/DPP4 titer variation in the early phase of YS110 treatment is a predictive biomarker for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.

Background Cancer patients are thought to have an increased risk of developing severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and of dying from the disease. In this work, predictive factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality in cancer patients were investigated. Patients and Methods In this large nationwide retro-prospective cohort study, we collected data on patients with solid tumours and COVID-19 diagnosed between March 1 and June 11, 2020. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and COVID-19 severity, defined as admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and/or mechanical ventilation and/or death, was one of the secondary endpoints. Results From April 4 to June 11, 2020, 1289 patients were analysed. The most frequent cancers were digestive and thoracic. Altogether, 424 (33%) patients had a severe form of COVID-19 and 370 (29%) patients died. In multivariate analysis, independent factors associated with death were male sex (odds ratio 1.73, 95%CI: 1.18-2.52), ECOG PS ≥ 2 (OR 3.23, 95%CI: 2.27-4.61), updated Charlson comorbidity index (OR 1.08, 95%CI: 1.01-1.16) and admission to ICU (OR 3.62, 95%CI 2.14-6.11). The same factors, age along with corticosteroids before COVID-19 diagnosis, and thoracic primary tumour site were independently associated with COVID-19 severity. None of the anticancer treatments administered within the previous 3 months had any effect on mortality or COVID-19 severity, except cytotoxic chemotherapy in the subgroup of patients with detectable SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, which was associated with a slight increase of the risk of death (OR 1.53; 95%CI: 1.00-2.34; p = 0.05). A total of 431 (39%) patients had their systemic anticancer treatment interrupted or stopped following diagnosis of COVID-19. Conclusions Mortality and COVID-19 severity in cancer patients are high and are associated with general characteristics of patients. We found no deleterious effects of recent anticancer treatments, except for cytotoxic chemotherapy in the RT-PCR-confirmed subgroup of patients. In almost 40% of patients, the systemic anticancer therapy was interrupted or stopped after COVID-19 diagnosis., Highlights • A total of 1289 patients with solid tumours and COVID-19 were analysed. • Mortality and COVID-19 severity were mainly driven by patient general characteristics. • Overall, we found no deleterious effects of recent anticancer treatments on mortality. . • Systemic anticancer treatment was interrupted or stopped in 39% of patients.

Background Choroidal metastases are the most common eye metastatic site. The prevalence of choroidal metastases in NSCLC patients has been reported to vary from 0.2 to 7% in historical series. Although previously reported, little is known about choroidal metastasis in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mutant Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study sought to describe the prevalence of choroidal metastases among patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC and their characteristics, and to estimate their impact on prognosis. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective study including all consecutive metastatic EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients, from Sept. 2015 to Oct. 2018. The EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients were identified via the Department of Genetics’ files. Patients who exhibited choroidal metastases were compared to patients without choroidal metastases. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were conducted to assess median overall survival (OS) from diagnosis for the two groups. The study was approved by the IRB as CEPRO number #2020–010. Results Prevalence of choroidal metastases in EGFR-mutated NSCLCs was 8.4% (7/83). Five were women, and four current or former smokers. Molecular analysis showed three tumors with exon 19 deletion, three with L858R mutation, and one with complex exon 21 mutation. The choroidal metastases were symptomatic in six/seven patients. Visual disturbances decreased in all but one symptomatic cases upon EGFR TKI, and the choroidal response was maintained over time. Median follow-up was 42.2 mo (95%CI [37.2–47.1]). Median OS in the choroidal metastasis group was 23.4 mo (95%CI [0.1–51.4]) versus 27.9 mo (95%CI [16.9–38.9]) in the non-choroidal metastasis group (p = 0.32). In the choroidal metastasis group, 2-year and 5-year OS were 47.6 and 0%, respectively, versus 55.8 and 26.3% in the non-choroidal metastasis subset. Conclusions Choroidal metastases in NSCLC EGFR-mutant patients are rare but should be systematically suspected in case of visual disturbance. TKIs are efficient for treating visual symptoms. Whether choroidal metastases confer a worse prognosis remains unclear owing to the third-generation EGFR TKI osimertinib first-line registration.

BackgroundWhereas first-line bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) is considered standard of care for the management of severe haemoptysis, it is unknown whether this approach is warranted for non-severe haemoptysis.Research questionTo assess the efficacy on bleeding control and the safety of first-line BAE in non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance.Study design and methodsThis multicentre, randomised controlled open-label trial enrolled adult patients without major comorbid condition and having mild haemoptysis (onset ResultsBleeding recurrence at day 30 after randomisation (primary outcome) occurred in 4 (11.8%) of 34 patients in the BAE strategy and 17 (44.7%) of 38 patients in the medical strategy (difference −33%; 95% CI −13.8% to −52.1%, p=0.002). The 90-day bleeding recurrence-free survival rates were 91.2% (95% CI 75.1% to 97.1%) and 60.2% (95% CI 42.9% to 73.8%), respectively (HR=0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.67, p=0.01). No death occurred during follow-up and no bleeding recurrence needed surgery.Four adverse events (one major with systemic emboli) occurred during hospitalisation, all in the BAE strategy (11.8% vs 0%; difference 11.8%, 95% CI 0.9 to 22.6, p=0.045); all eventually resolved.ConclusionIn non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance, BAE associated with medical therapy had a superior efficacy for preventing bleeding recurrences at 30 and 90 days, as compared with medical therapy alone. However, it was associated with a higher rate of adverse events.Trial registration numberNCT01278199

Background The arrival of immunotherapies and targeted therapies challenged the authorities to make them available as soon as possible. France has effective tools, such as clinical trials (CTs) and a national early access program (temporary authorizations for use [ATUs] and temporary recommendations for use [RTUs]), allowing the use of innovative drugs, whether or not they have been authorized or used off‐label, for cases that have reached a therapeutic impasse. Methods The methodology involved real‐time data collection from ATUs, RTUs (between September 1, 2009 and September 1, 2019), and CT authorizations (from December 1, 2017 to September 1, 2019) that were filed and reviewed by the French National Agency for Medicines for metastatic melanoma (MM). Results In total, 45 CTs were authorized for MM (51% early phase trials and 44% phase 2 and 3 trials), mainly for the metastatic line (86%) and with an industrial sponsor (73%). Immunotherapies and targeted therapies (63% and 24%, respectively) mostly were used in combination. Three RTUs were authorized for the adjuvant treatment of MM, whereas 13 drugs were available through nominal ATUs (nATUs), of which 5 were awarded a cohort ATU (cATU). This enabled the treatment of 6538 patients (28% through nATUs and 72% through cATUs). All of these drugs were granted marketing authorization and were included in the reimbursement list. Conclusions Thanks to CTs and the national early access program, patients in France have been able to benefit from innovative MM treatments. Lay Summary Several tools allow the use of innovative drugs in France, even if they are not yet authorized or used off‐label.From December 1, 2017 to September 1, 2019, 45 clinical trials have been authorized for metastatic melanoma, mostly using immunotherapy (63%) and targeted therapy (24%) at an early phase (51%).Since 2010, the national early access program has treated 6538 patients, including 28% under nominative temporary authorizations for use and 72% under cohort temporary authorizations for use.Fourteen drugs are available through nominative temporary authorizations for use, and 5 are available through cohort temporary authorizations for use, and all of these drugs were granted marketing authorization., France has effective tools, such as clinical trials and a national early access program (temporary authorizations for use and temporary recommendations for use), allowing the use of innovative drugs that either are not authorized or are used off‐label in cases at a therapeutic impasse. Thanks to these tools, patients with malignant melanoma have early access to innovative treatments.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been shown to improve patients‘ clinical outcomes in a variety of cancers, but with variable efficacy. Prior research has also suggested that systemic antibiotic (ABX) exposure may impact the intestinal microbiota and result in suboptimal ICI treatment outcomes. Our team published a systematic review and meta-analysis showing that ABX use could indeed decrease the survival of patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and treated with ICIs.1 The present abstract aims at updating this meta-analysis by incorporating new studies that have been published in the period ranging from September 2019 to August 2020. Methods Medline (through PubMed), the Cochrane Library and major oncology conferences proceedings were systematically searched to identify studies assessing the impact of ABX use on the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. Studies were found eligible for inclusion when they mentioned a hazard ratio (HR) or Kaplan–Meier curves for overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) based on antibiotic exposure. Pooled HRs for OS and PFS and HRs for OS and PFS according to different time windows for ABX exposure were calculated. Results 6 eligible new studies were identified between September 2019 and August 2020 while 3 other studies were updated with new information. Altogether, 27 studies reported data for OS (6,436 patients, 826 of whom coming from new studies) and 24 for PFS (3,751 patients, 786 of whom coming from new studies). The pooled HR was 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–2.23) for OS and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.28–1.92) for PFS, confirming a significantly reduced survival in patients with NSCLC exposed to ABX. The detailed analysis in subgroups based on the time window of exposure (figure 1, figure 2) suggests that the deleterious effect of ABX is stronger when the exposition happens shortly before and after the initiation of the ICI treatment. Conclusions The update of the meta-analysis confirms the previously reported deleterious effect of ABX on ICI treatment outcomes, taking into account the latest publications in the field. The topic deserves further research to uncover if the effect will stand with 1st line use of ICI together with chemotherapies and/or other approved combinations, elucidate the mechanisms at stake and improve care of patients. Reference Lurienne L, Cervesi J, Duhalde L, de Gunzburg J, Andremont A, Zalcman G, et al. NSCLC immunotherapy efficacy and antibiotic use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Thorac Oncol 2020;15:1147–1159.

Objectives The occurrence of immune-related myositis (irM) is increasing, yet there are no therapeutic guidelines. We sought to analyse the current therapeutic strategies of irM and evaluate the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) rechallenge. Methods We conducted a nationwide retrospective study between April 2018 and March 2020 including irM without myocardial involvement. Depending on the presence of cutaneous signs or unusual histopathological features, patients were classified into two groups: typical or atypical irM. Therapeutic strategies were analysed in both groups. The modalities and outcomes of ICI rechallenge were reviewed. Results Among the 20 patients, 16 presented typical irM. Regardless of severity, most typical irM were treated with steroid monotherapy (n = 14/16) and all had a complete response within ≤3 weeks. The efficacy of oral steroids for non-severe typical irM (n = 10) was the same with low-dose (≤0.5 mg/kg/day) or high-dose (1 mg/kg/day). Severe typical irM were successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. Atypical irM (n = 4) had a less favourable evolution, including one irM-related death, and required heavy immunosuppression. ICIs were safely reintroduced in nine patients presenting a moderate (n = 6) or a severe (n = 3) irM. Conclusion Our data highlight that steroid monotherapy is an effective treatment for typical irM, either with prednisone or with intravenous methylprednisone pulses depending on the severity. The identification of unusual features is important in determining the initial therapeutic strategy. The outcomes of rechallenged patients are in favour of a safe reintroduction of ICI following symptom resolution and creatin kinase (CK) normalization in moderate and severe forms of irM.

Background: The novel COVID-19 outbreak spread rapidly around the world Cancer patients (pts) consist of a highly vulnerable group due to underlying malignancy and/or treatment-induced immunosuppression A high mortality rate from COVID-19 in cancer pts was previously reported France is the fourth most affected country, with more than 150,000 infected individuals and over 28,000 deaths GCO-002 CACOVID-19 study is a large French nationwide cohort of COVID-19 pts with solid tumors with the aim to identify risk factors of COVID-19 severity and evaluate impact on cancer treatment Methods: Bispective multicenter cohort set up by the French Cooperative Groups in solid cancers: ANOCEF-IGCNO (CNS tumors), ARCAGY-GINECO (gynecological and breast cancers), FFCD (digestive cancers), GERCOR (digestive and other solid cancers), GORTEC/intergroupe ORL (head and neck cancers (HNAmgen, Pierre Fabre;Sandoz;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Bayer;Novartis;Honoraria (self): Celgene;HalioDx;Lilly;Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS;Roche;Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (self): Incyte;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Ipsen;Merck;Servier;Research grant/Funding (self): Integragen;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AAA;Pfizer A Turpin: Honoraria (self): Servier;Advisory/Consultancy: Mylan;Merck Serono;Amgen;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Merck;Sanofi;Pfizer;AstraZeneca I L Ray-Coquard: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Abbvie;Agenus;Advaxis;Honoraria (self), Honoraria (institution), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): BMS;MSD;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: PharmaMar;Genmab;Pfizer;Deciphera;Mersena;Amgen;Tesaro;Clovis;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck Serono;Novartis;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Honoraria (self), Honoraria (institution), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche;Honoraria (self), Honoraria (institution), Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: GSK;Non-remunerated activity/ies: GINECO;ENGOT;GCIG;European community;ESMO;ASCO;ESGO;IGSC;Inca;Swiss and German Health Authorities;Italian Health Authority;Belgium Health Authority J Thariat: Honoraria (self): BMS;Honoraria (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses, Full/Part-time employment: Centre Francois Baclesse;Leadership role: President of the French Head and Neck Intergroup, GORTEC secretary;Non-remunerated activity/ies: Director of Easy-CRF society;Research grant/Funding (institution): Nanobiotix G Ahle: Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Abbvie;Biogen;Novartis;Roche;Sanofi;Non-remunerated activity/ies: ANOCEF;NENO;AlSacEP R Mathieu: Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (self): Astellas;Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca;Ferring;Ipsen;Janssen;MSD;Pfizer;Sanofi;Takeda D Debieuvre: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer;Roche;Novartis;BMS;MSD;Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): Chugai;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Boerhinger-Ingelheim;Research grant/Funding (institution): Chiesi;Sandoz;Takeda;GSK;Research grant/Funding (self): Lilly A Canellas: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: BMS;Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Oxyvie;LVL Medical;Boerhinger Ingelheim A-C Hardy-Bessard: Advisory/Consultancy: Clovis;Novartis;Roche;MSD;AstraZeneca;GSK L Mansi: Honoraria (institution), Advisory/Consultancy: Sandoz;Advisory/Consultancy: Roche;Eisai;Pfizer;Novartis;Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Exact Sciences;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Lilly P Gorphe: Honoraria (self): Intuitive Surgical;Non-remunerated activity/ies: Chair, scientific board, French Head and Neck Intergroup;Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD A IDBAIH Ahmed: Research grant/Funding (institution): Transgene;Sanofi;Air Liquide;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Carthera;Leo Pharma G Zalcman: Honoraria (self), Honoraria (institution), Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS;Honoraria (self), Honoraria (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Honoraria (institution), Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche;Honoraria (institution): Takeda;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer;AbbVie;MSD O Bouche: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Merck KgaA;Bayer;AstraZeneca;Grunenthal;MSD;Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Amgen;Pierre Fabre;Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Servier All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest

Purpose Second-line chemotherapy regimens have demonstrated poor benefit after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced non-squamous non–small-cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC). Methods In this multicentre, open-label phase III trial, patients with advanced nsNSCLC treated with one or two prior lines, including one platinum-based doublet, were centrally randomised to receive 90 mg/m2 of paclitaxel (D1, D8, D15) plus 10 mg/kg of bevacizumab (D1, D15) every 28 days or docetaxel (75 mg/m2) every 21 days; crossover was allowed after disease progression. Primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01763671 . Results One hundred sixty six patients were randomised (paclitaxel plus bevacizumab: 111, docetaxel: 55). The median PFS was longer in patients receiving paclitaxel plus bevacizumab than in patients receveing docetaxel [5·4 months versus 3·9 months, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0·61 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0·44–0·86); p = 0·005]. Objective response rates (ORRs) were 22·5% (95% CI: 14·8–30·3) and 5·5% (95% CI: 0·0–11·5) (p = 0·006), respectively. Median overall survivals were similar (adjusted HR 1·17; p = 0·50). Crossover occurred in 21 of 55 (38·2%) docetaxel-treated patients. Grade III-IV adverse events (AEs) were reported in 45·9% and 54·5% of patients treated with paclitaxel and bevacizumab or docetaxel, respectively (p = NS), including neutropenia (19·3% versus 45·4%), neuropathy (8·3% versus 0·0%) and hypertension (7·3% versus 0·0%). Three patients died due to treatment-related AEs (1·8% in each group). Conclusion Weekly paclitaxel plus bevacizumab as second- or third-line improves PFS and ORR compared with docetaxel in patients with nsNSCLC, with an acceptable safety profile. These results place weekly paclitaxel plus bevacizumab as a valid option in this population. Clinical trials registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01763671 .

There is a strong rationale for inhibiting angiogenesis in mesothelioma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an autocrine growth factor in mesothelioma and a potent mitogen for mesothelial cells. Further, the abnormal tumor vasculature promotes raised interstitial pressure and hypoxia, which may be detrimental to both penetration and efficacy of anticancer agents. Antiangiogenic agents have been trialed in mesothelioma for close to two decades, with early phase clinical trials testing vascular targeting agents, the VEGF-A targeting monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, and numerous tyrosine kinase inhibitors, many with multiple targets. None of these have shown efficacy which has warranted further development as single agents in any line of therapy. Whilst a randomized phase II trial combining the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib with platinum/pemetrexed chemotherapy was positive, these results were not confirmed in a subsequent phase III study. The combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed with bevacizumab, in appropriately selected patients, remains the only anti-angiogenic combination showing efficacy in mesothelioma. Extensive efforts to identify biomarkers of response have not yet been successful.

Background In 2013, the French National Cancer Institute initiated the AcSe program to provide patients with secure access to targeted therapies outside of their marketed approvals. Efficacy and safety was then assessed using a two-stage Simon phase II trial design. When the study design was designed, crizotinib was approved only as monotherapy for adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase plus non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Patients and methods Advanced NSCLC patients with c-MET ≥6 copies, c-MET-mutated, or ROS-1-translocated tumours were enrolled in one of the three cohorts. Patients were treated with crizotinib 250 mg twice daily. Efficacy was assessed using the objective response rate (ORR) after two cycles of crizotinib as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included disease control rate at four cycles, best ORR, progression-free survival, overall survival, and drug tolerance. Results From August 2013 to March 2018, 5606 patients had their tumour tested for crizotinib targeted molecular alterations: 252 patients had c-MET ≥6 copies, 74 c-MET-mutation, and 78 ROS-1-translocated tumour. Finally, 25 patients in the c-MET ≥6 copies cohort, 28 in the c-MET-mutation cohort, and 37 in the ROS-1-translocation cohort were treated in the phase II trial. The ORR was 16% in the c-MET ≥6 copies cohort, 10.7% in the mutated, and 47.2% in the ROS-1 cohort. The best ORR during treatment was 32% in the c-MET-≥6 copies cohort, 36% in the c-MET-mutated, and 69.4% in the ROS-1-translocation cohort. Safety data were consistent with that previously reported. Conclusions Crizotinib activity in patients with ROS1-translocated tumours was confirmed. In the c-MET-mutation and c-MET ≥6 copies cohorts, despite insufficient ORR after two cycles of crizotinib, there are signs of late response not sufficient to justify the development of crizotinib in this indication. The continued targeting of c-MET with innovative therapies appears justified. Clinical trial number NCT02034981.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically improved patient outcomes in a variety of tumor types, but with variable efficacy. Recent research has suggested that antibiotic-induced disruption of the microbiota may impact ICI efficacy. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that assessed the impact of antibiotic use on the survival of patients diagnosed with NSCLC and treated with ICI. We systematically searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and major oncology conferences proceedings. Eligible studies mentioned hazard ratio or Kaplan–Meier curves for progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) based on antibiotic exposure before or during ICI treatment. We identified 23 eligible studies. The impact of antibiotics was then evaluated in 2208 patients for PFS and 5560 for OS. For both PFS and OS meta-analyses, the between-study heterogeneity was high (Higgins and Thompson I2 of 69% and 80%, respectively). The pooled hazard ratio was 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–1.90) for PFS and 1.69 (95% CI: 1.25–2.29) for OS revealing a significantly reduced survival in patients with NSCLC exposed to antibiotics. The median OS was reduced on average by 6.7 months (95% CI: 5.1–8.4) in the patients exposed to antibiotics. The effect seems to depend on the time window of exposure with stronger effects reported when the patients took antibiotics [−60 days; +60 days] around ICI initiation. In patients with NSCLC, the findings of the meta-analysis indicate that antibiotic use before or during treatment with ICI leads to a median OS decreased by more than 6 months. Specifically, exposure shortly before or after ICI initiation seems to be particularly detrimental, whereas antibiotic use later during disease course does not seem to alter survival. Because PFS and OS were difficult to compare between studies owing to heterogeneity and the multiple confounding factors identified, further studies are needed to strengthen the understanding of this phenomenon.

RASSF1 gene methylation predicts longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer treated using paclitaxel-based neo-adjuvant chemotherapy compared to patients receiving a gemcitabine-based regimen, according to the randomized Phase 3 IFCT (Intergroupe Francophone de Canc&eacute, rologie Thoracique)-0002 trial. To better understand these results, this study used four human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) models (HBEC-3, HBEC-3-RasV12, A549, and H1299) and modulated the expression of RASSF1A or YAP-1. Wound-healing, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis assays were then carried out and the expression of YAP-1 transcriptional targets was quantified using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This study reports herein that gemcitabine synergizes with RASSF1A, silencing to increase the IAP-2 expression, which in turn not only interferes with cell proliferation but also promotes cell migration. This contributes to the aggressive behavior of RASSF1A-depleted cells, as confirmed by a combined knockdown of IAP-2 and RASSF1A. Conversely, paclitaxel does not increase the IAP-2 expression but limits the invasiveness of RASSF1A-depleted cells, presumably by rescuing microtubule stabilization. Overall, these data provide a functional insight that supports the prognostic value of RASSF1 gene methylation on survival of early-stage lung cancer patients receiving perioperative paclitaxel-based treatment compared to gemcitabine-based treatment, identifying IAP-2 as a novel biomarker indicative of YAP-1-mediated modulation of chemo-sensitivity in lung cancer.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK ) gene rearrangement defines a recently identified molecular subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 4–5% of all non-squamous NSCLC (1).

The identification of cardiac sarcoidosis is challenging as there is no gold standard consensually admitted for its diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the assessment of cardiac dynamic 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and net influx constant (Ki) in patients suspected of cardiac sarcoidosis. Data obtained from 30 biopsy-proven sarcoidosis patients suspected of cardiac sarcoidosis who underwent a 50-min list-mode cardiac dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT after a 24 h high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet were analyzed. A normalized coefficient of variation of quantitative glucose influx constant, calculated as the ratio: standard deviation of the segmental Ki (min−1)/global Ki (min−1) was determined using a validated software (Carimas® 2.4, Turku PET Centre). Cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed according to the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare criteria. Receiving operating curve analysis was performed to determine sensitivity and specificity of cardiac dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT analysis to diagnose cardiac sarcoidosis. Six out of 30 patients (20%) were diagnosed as having cardiac sarcoidosis. Myocardial glucose metabolism was significantly heterogeneous in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis who showed significantly higher normalized coefficient of variation values compared to patients without cardiac sarcoidosis (0.513 ± 0.175 vs. 0.205 ± 0.081; p = 0.0007). Using ROC curve analysis, we found a cut-off value of 0.38 for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91%. Our results suggest that quantitative analysis of cardiac dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT could be a useful tool for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis.

BackgroundWe report the results from the advanced malignant mesothelioma (aMM) expansion cohort of the PEMBIB Phase Ib trial (NCT02856425) evaluating the safety, efficacy & biomarkers of an antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (nintedanib) with an anti-PD1 immunotherapy (pembrolizumab).MethodsPatients with aMM relapsing after at least one line of platinum doublet chemotherapy and not previously pre-exposed to IO were treated with a combination of oral nintedanib (150mg BID) & IV pembrolizumab (200mg Q3W) with a 7 days nintedanib lead-in preceding pembrolizumab initiation. Baseline and on-treatment (cycle D2, day 1 [C2D1]) fresh tumor & blood samples were prospectively phenotyped by flow cytometry (FC). RNAseq was run on tumor samples. Immune factors were titrated on tumor secretome and plasma.Results30 aMM patients were treated and 29 evaluable for response. Median age was 68 years old (38–85) and 86% of aMM were epithelioid. The most frequent adverse events (AE) (grades 1–3) related to the combination were liver enzymes increase, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. 4 (13.3%) patients developed grade 3–5 immune- related AE. Patients died of cancer progression (n=14, 46.7%), myocarditis with thrombo-embolic event (n=1, 3.3%) and COVID-19 (n=1, 3.3%). Median follow-up was 14.8 months (95%CI [9.70–18.2]). Best Overall Response Rates (BORR) per RECISTv1.1 were Partial Response (PR, n=7/29; 24.1%), Stable Disease (SD, n=17/29; 58.6%) and Progressive Disease (n=5/29; 17.2%). Disease Control Rate (DCR) (defined as PR + SD) was 46.6% at 6 months. Patients with DCR at 6 months had significantly higher percentage of PDL1 expression on tumor cells (by Immuno-Histo-Chemistry, antibody clone SP263) and higher CD8+ T cells infiltrate in tumor biopsies (by FC) at screening. Upon treatment, soluble plasma rate of CXCL9 and CXCL13 increased in all patients, as well as tumor immune infiltrates estimated by deconvolution of tumor biopsies RNA-seq. But deconvoluted estimates of NK cells, T cells and myeloid dendritic cells infiltrates on baseline tumors and C2D1 biopsies were higher in patients with DCR at 6 months. Pre & on-treatment IL6 and IL8 rates in tumor secretome & plasma were higher in patients without DCR. Gene Set Enrichment Analyses on RNA-seq from screening biopsies highlighted an enrichment in E2F, MYC and KRAS gene pathways and lower expression of type 1 interferon signature in patients without DCR than those with DCR at 6 months.ConclusionsWith a BORR of 24% and a DCR of 47% at 6 months, pembrolizumab and nintedanib combination provided valuable therapeutic benefits for patients with aMM.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrialsgov, NCT02856425. Registered August 4, 2016 — Prospectively registered,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02856425?term=PEMBIB&draw=2&rank=1.Ethics ApprovalThe protocol was first approved by the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) on June 24th 2016 (Ref #160371A-12). The protocol was also approved by the Ethical Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile de France 1) on Jul 12th 2016 (Ref #2016-mai-14236ND).

Despite recent advances in metastatic lung cancer treatment with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors and molecules targeting addictive genomic abnormalities, prognosis of most of the patients remains unfavorable. Combination approaches with older drugs, such as bevacizumab, should be thus envisioned. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody, approved by the US FDA and the EMA in first-line and maintenance settings of advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, in association with platinum-based chemotherapy. In the years to come, bevacizumab might be associated with new molecular therapies or immuno-oncology drugs, in order to optimize response rates and overcome resistances. This review summarizes the pharmacologic properties, clinical efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in advanced lung cancer treatment, with a focus on NSCLC, EGFR-mutant NSCLC and small-cell lung cancer.

Background Despite the emergence of new therapies, Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) still has a high mortality. Several clinical, echocardiographic, biological or hemodynamic prognostic factors have been identified but are of limited predictive value for survival. We aimed to assess whether heart rate (HR) and all ECG abnormalities measured on a 12-lead ECG may help to better identify patients at high risk of death in this population. Methods and results 296 patients followed in a registry were included with all types of PH, except group 2 of the WHO clinical classification. After a median follow-up of 10 years, age, male sex, NYHA III/IV status and, among all ECG parameters, HR and corrected QT interval were associated with mortality. In multivariate analysis, HR, age and male sex remained significant independent predictors of mortality. HR has a higher predictive value in the 238 patients in sinus rhythm. In addition, only HR was significantly correlated with clinical and hemodynamic PH prognostic factors. Conclusion HR measured on a 12-lead ECG at the time of the diagnosis is a strong independent predictor of mortality in PH patients.

A meta-analysis of the Chinese studies in April 2020, including 3600 patients with cancer and COVID-19, first reported an increase of the COVID-19 risk and the case-fatality in these patients. Then, North-American and European series confirmed the increased COVID-19 risk for patients with cancer, as the increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death, when compared with general population, adjusting for age. Patients with lung cancer have the highest risk of severe respiratory forms, and the highest risk of SARS-CoV2-induced death (25 to 30%), after patients with hematological cancers. Metastatic patients, with poor PS, and those having received a cytotoxic chemotherapy within the weeks preceding SARSCoV2 infection, are those with the highest risk of death. Conversely, being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors would not favor the cytokine storm, which makes the severity of COVID-19. SARS-CoV2 pandemic, beyond having needed the generalization of drastic social distancing measures in hospitals, also needed organizational changes, to allow healthcare continuity for cancer patients. Adaptation of therapeutic protocols was needed, with increased intervals between cycles, the choice of less toxic protocols, the systematic use of hematological growth factors, and teleconsultations follow-up. Lastly, mRNA-based SARS-CoV2 vaccines are efficient in patients with thoracic cancer, provided the interval of 21/28 days between the two injections is maintained, since protective immunization seems delayed, especially after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Only 13% of patients with very low protective antibodies titers would need a third booster injection, with a clear rise in protective antibodies titers induced by such a third injection.© 2021 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Background: We report the results from the advanced malignant mesothelioma (aMM) expansion cohort of the PEMBIB phase Ib trial (NCT02856425) evaluating the safety, efficacy & biomarkers of an antiangiogenic TKI (nintedanib = [N]) with an anti-PD1 immunotherapy (pembrolizumab = [P]). Methods: Patients (Pts) with aMM that relapsed after at least one line of platinum-based combination were treated with a combination of oral [N] (150mg BID) & IV [P] (200mg Q3W) with 7 days [N] lead-in preceded [P] initiation. Baseline and on-treatment fresh tumor & blood samples were prospectively phenotyped immune cells by flow cytometry (FC). RNAseq was run on tumor samples. Immune factors were titrated by multiplex ELISA on tumor secretome and plasma. Results: 30 aMM Pts were treated and 29 evaluable for response. Median age was 68 years old (38-85) and 86% of aMM were epithelioid. The most frequent adverse events (AE) (grades 1-3) related to the combination were liver enzymes increase, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. 4 (13.3%) Pts developed grade 3-5 immune- related AE. Patients died of cancer progression (n=14), myocarditis with thrombo-embolic event (n=1) and COVID-19 (n=1). Median follow-up was 14.8 months (95%CI [9.70-18.2]). Best Overall Response Rates (BORR) were Partial Response (PR;n=7), Stable Disease (SD;n=17) and Progressive Disease (PD;n=5). Disease Control Rate (DCR) (defined as PR + SD) was 68.4% and 46.6% at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Analyses on fresh tumor biopsies showed that all patients increased their CD3+ T-cells and circulating levels of soluble PD1 and CXCL9 under treatment. Pts developing PR had significantly higher CD45+ and CD3+ tumor infiltrative cells at baseline compared to Pts with SD & PD as BORR. Pts with DCR at 6 months had significantly higher expression of integrins on circulating effector memory CD4+ & CD8+ T cells by FC, and higher NK, T, and myeloid dendritic cells infiltrates on baseline tumor RNAseq. Pre & on-treatment IL6 and IL8 levels in tumor secretome & plasma were higher among Pts with PD. Conclusions: With a BORR of 23% and a DCR of 47% at 6 months, [P]+[N] combination provided valuable therapeutic benefits for Pts with aMM. Flow cytometry and secretome on fresh baseline tumor biopsies are simple techniques which could be used to predict treatment efficacy in aMM Pts. Clinical trial identification: NCT02856425. Legal entity responsible for the study: Gustave Roussy. Funding: Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim;Drug supply: Boehringer Ingelheim & MSD;Sponsor: Gustave Roussy. Disclosure: C. Baldini: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: BMS;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Seattle Genetics;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Iteos;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Tahio;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: BMS. N. Chaput: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: BMS;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: GSK;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Roche;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Cytune Pharma. G. Zalcman: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, outside the submitted work: BMS;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, outside the submitted work: MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, outside the submitted work: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, outside the submitted work: Boehringer Ingelheim;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, outside the submitted work: Roche;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, outside the submitted work: Takeda;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, outside the submitted work: AstraZeneca;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, outside the submitted work: AbbVie. C. Massard: Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Amgen;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Astellas Pharma;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: AstraZeneca;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Bayer;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: BeiGene;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: BMS;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Celgene;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Debiopharm Group;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Genentech/Roche;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Ipsen;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Janssen;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Lilly;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: MSD;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Novartis;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Pfizer;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Sanofi;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Orion;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Taiho Pharmaceuticals;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Blueprint Medicinces;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Innate Pharma;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: PharmaMar;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Faron Pharmaceuticals. J-C. Soria: Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Gritstone Oncology;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Relay Therapeutics;Financial Interests, Personal, Member of the Board of Directors: Hookipa Pharmaceuticals;Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment, sept 2017 to dec 2019: AstraZeneca. A. Marabelle: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche/Genentech;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: BMS;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Merck Serono;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Amgen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Servier;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Roche/Genentech;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: BMS;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: MSD;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Pfizer;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Lytix Pharma;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Eisai;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: AstraZeneca;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Tesaro;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Chugai;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Ose Immunotherapeutics;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Sotio;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Molecular Partners;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: IMCheck;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Pierre Fabre;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Principal Investigator: Adlai Nortye;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Pegascy SAS;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Centessa Pharmaceuticals;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: HiFiBio;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Shattuck Labs;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Merus;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: BMS;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Boehringer Ingelheim;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Transgene;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Fondation MSD Avenir;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Sanofi. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

BACKGROUND: Lorlatinib, a 3rd generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown overall and intracranial activity in ALK+ advanced NSCLC. In the randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study in pts with previously untreated ALK+ advanced NSCLC (CROWN; NCT03052608), lorlatinib resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) vs crizotinib.1 To identify molecular correlates of response, we performed molecular profiling of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and tumor tissue. METHODS: Plasma and tumor tissue samples were available from 130 and 118 pts in the lorlatinib arm, and from 125 and 104 pts in the crizotinib arm, respectively. Plasma DNA was analyzed for ALK fusions and mutations by next-generation sequencing (NGS; Guardant360, Guardant Health, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA); tumor tissue DNA was analyzed with an ALK-mutation focused NGS panel (MolecularMD, Portland, OR, USA). Objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), and PFS were evaluated by blinded independent central review according to EML4-ALK variant type and ALK resistance mutation status. RESULTS: At screening, 19 ALK missense mutations and 1 deletion were detected in plasma of 11 pts (5 and 6 in the lorlatinib and crizotinib arms, respectively). Most pts harbored 1 mutation, but 3 pts harbored ≥3 mutations. ALK fusions were detected in plasma of 48% of pts. EML4-ALK variants 1, 2, and 3 were detected in 14.6%, 5.4%, and 13.8% and in 20.0%, 1.6%, and 16.8% of pts, in the lorlatinib and crizotinib arms, respectively. Variants 4, 5, 7, and 8 were detected in 11.5% and 7.2% of pts, and less frequent fusion partners in 1.5% and 3.2% of pts, respectively. ORRs were generally higher in the lorlatinib arm vs the crizotinib arm, regardless of variant subtypes and/or mutational status, with no striking differences between EML4-ALK variants 1, 2, and 3 (range, 72% to 86% for lorlatinib and 50% to 76% for crizotinib). Median DOR and PFS were not reached for variants 1 and 3 in the lorlatinib arm, and ranged from 5.7 to 6.5 months, and from 7.4 to 7.6 months in the crizotinib arm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pts with untreated ALK+ advanced NSCLC had higher ORRs and potentially longer DOR and PFS across predefined biomarker subgroups when treated with lorlatinib compared with crizotinib in a phase 3 CROWN study. Based on pretreatment cfDNA analysis, lorlatinib led to similar clinical benefit regardless of the type of EML4-ALK variant or presence of ALK kinase mutations. REFERENCE: 1. Shaw AT, et al. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:2018-2029. Citation Format: Alessandra Bearz, Jean-François Martini, Jacek Jassem, Sang-We Kim, Gee-Chen Chang, Alice Shaw, Deborah Shepard, Elisa Dall'O', Anna Polli, Holger Thurm, Gerard Zalcman, Maria Rosario Garcia Campelo, Konstantin Penkov, Hidetoshi Hayashi, Benjamin J. Solomon. Efficacy of Lorlatinib in Treatment-Naïve Patients (pts) With ALK-Positive Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Relation to EML4-ALK Variant Type and ALK Mutations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB043.

9019 Background: The gut microbiome, most specifically centered on one of the most prevalent anaerobic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk), has emerged as a potential hallmark of clinical benefit to ICI. The goal of this study was to validate the prognostic significance of Akk in advanced NSCLC patients amenable to ICI. Methods: The multicentric prospective observational study enrolled patients with advanced NSCLC amenable to single agent ICI in first and second line. Stool sample was collected at study entry. Primary end-point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR). We considered that a meaningful clinical difference would correlate to a 10% ORR increase in the Akk-Pos group compared to the Akk-Neg group. At least 292 patients equally divided each in each group would be required for a power at 80% and a two-sided alpha level of 5%. Results: From Dec 2015 to Nov 2019, a total of 409 patients were screened and 311 patients enrolled across 12 academic centers in France and Canada. Median age was 64yr, 32% were female, 77% had non-squamous NSCLC and PD-L1 was ≥1% in 70% of the 213 assessable samples. Akk was detectable in 158 (51%) and absent in 153 (49%) patients. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. When considering Akk-Pos vs Akk-Neg groups the primary endpoint ORR was 27% and 17% respectively ( p = 0.04). Rates of partial response, stable disease and progressive disease (PD) were 62%, 50% and 46% respectively in the Akk-Pos group compared to 38%, 50% and 54% in the Akk-Neg group ( p = 0.04). Moreover, 57% of patients were still alive after 12 months in the Akk-Pos group vs 43% in the Akk-Neg group ( p = 0.04). Microbiome profiling demonstrated that Akk-Pos group was associated with increase bacterial diversity and enrichment of Ruminococcus, Alistipes and Eubacterium. When considering the variations of the relative abundance of Akk within the Akk-Pos group, we obtained a large interval ranging from 0.0022% up to 64.78% with a 75th percentile at 4.42%. The relative abundance of Akk within > 0% to < 4.42% range in stools at diagnosis was associated with increased ORR, overall survival (OS) in multivariate analysis, independent of PD-L1 expression and ECOG. This sub-group was associated with more inflamed tumors with upregulation of CD3e, IfngTH1 and Vcam-1. Conversely, patients with overrepresentation of Akk > 4.42% experienced more PD and shorter OS. Antibiotic use was associated with a shift in favor of Gammaproteobacteria, enrichment of Akk ( > 4.42%) and shorter OS. Conclusions: We validated the prognostic role of Akk in patients with NSCLC. Stratification based on Akk relative abundance represents a more accurate independent predictor than the binary modality. Our study provides the rationale to develop microbiome-based approach to study gut dysbiosis in routine clinical oncology care. Clinical trial information: NCT04567446.

8526 Background: MRD aims to detect circulating biomarkers of micrometastatic disease and ultimately predict recurrences. The IFCT-0703 randomized phase II trial failed to show a benefit of 6 months adjuvant pazopanib (P) vs. placebo after resection of stage I NSCLC (7th TNM edition). The outcome of pts based on their MRD status has been evaluated. Methods: Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes (Becton Dickinson Company) after surgery (T0), after 3 months (T3) of P or placebo and at the end of treatment (T6). Plasmas were obtained after double centrifugation of total blood. Total nucleic acid was extracted using the Maxwell RSC LV plasma kit (Promega) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Samples were quantified using the QuBit dsDNA HS Assay kit on a QuBit 3.0 flurometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Molecular analysis was performed by next generation sequencing using the Oncomine Lung cfDNA Assay (ThermoFisher Scientific). Two MRD definitions were tested : 1) high level of DNA in the blood or 2) any mutation detected by the standard bioinformatic pipeline was considered present, whatever the allelic fraction. Results: 143 pts were randomized in 29 centers between March 2009 and August 2012, 71 and 72 in the placebo and P arms respectively. Among the 119 pts with evaluable T0 samples, 27 pts recurred and 14 died. Median DNA concentration ([DNA]) was 6.6 ng/ml and an increase of [DNA] of 10 ng/ml was found prognostic of poor DFS and OS, HR=1.4, 95%CI [1.14-1.72], p=0.0016 and HR=1.62, 95%CI [1.15-2.30], p=0.0057 respectively. In 81 pts with available T0-T6 samples, [DNA] variation had no different impact on DFS and OS, in the P arm and the placebo arm. ctDNA mutations (ctDNA+) were detected in 31/119 pts. ctDNA+ were more frequent in samples with high DNA quantity (p=0.0002). Genes mutated at T0 were TP53 in 16, NRAS in 6, MAP2K1 in 2, KRAS in 1, EGFR in 5, BRAF in 1, ALK in 2. 29 pts had 1 mutation, 2 had 2 mutations. DFS and OS were similar between pts with or without ctDNA+ : HR= 1.038 (95%CI 0.438-2.456, p=0.93) and 1.193 (95% CI 0.367-3.882, p=0.77) respectively. Among 27 pts with ctDNA+ at T0 and available sample at T6, 23 had no more mutations at T6. Two pts had a ctDNA+ only at T6 (not at T3), one of them had a recurrence at 7 months. Conclusions: Post-operative ctDNA mutations are found in 26.0% of the pts but their positivity had no impact on DFS or OS. In contrast, DFS and OS were poorer in pts with increased plasma DNA concentration. ctDNA mutations status do not recapitulate the complexity of MRD characterization. NGS will be performed on matched tissues in order to refine MRD definition. Clinical trial information: NCT00775307.

9015 Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 ( HER2) exon 20 insertions and mutations are oncogenic drivers found in 1-2% of NSCLC. However, there are no approved therapies for these patients. Many studies suggest that the use of HER2 inhibitors developed for breast cancer patients might be of interest in this setting. The aim of this trial was to prospectively evaluate the interest of a combination of two antibodies against HER2 (trastuzumab and pertuzumab) with docetaxel. Methods: IFCT-1703 R2D2 trial is a multicenter, non-randomized phase 2 study with a two-stage design, a power of 90% and an alpha risk at 5% (one-sided). HER2 mutational status was assessed locally in certified molecular genetic centers. Main other inclusion criteria were advanced NSCLC, progression after ≥ 1 platinum-based chemotherapy, asymptomatic brain metastases, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%, and PS 0-2. Patients were treated every 3 weeks with pertuzumab at a loading dose of 840 mg, and 420 mg thereafter; plus trastuzumab at a loading dose of 8 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg thereafter; and docetaxel at 75 mg/m². Treatment was given until toxicity or disease progression. The primary outcome was overall response rate (ORR). Other endpoints included duration of response, progression-free survival and safety. NCT number: NCT03845270. Results: From May 2019 to October 2020, 45 patients were enrolled in 17 centers and received study treatment. Median age was 64.5 years (range 31–84), 72% females, 35% smokers, 100% non-squamous histology and 15% with ECOG PS 2. 31.1% patients had brain metastases. PD-L1 was expressed ≥ 1% and ≥ 50% in 36% and 7% of the patients, respectively. No other oncogene driver was found associated with HER2 exon 20 mutation. With a median follow-up of 12 months, 44 (98%) patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint. Overall response rate was 29% (n = 13), stable disease 56% (n = 26). Median PFS was 6.8 months (95% CI[4.0-8.5]). Median duration of treatment in patients with confirmed response (n = 13) was 10 months (95% CI[2.7-14.9]). At the time of data cut-off, 15 patients (33%) were still under treatment. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were observed in 64% of patients. No patient experienced treatment discontinuation because of toxicity. One sudden death was possibly related to treatment. Most frequent grade ≥ 3 AEs were neutropenia (33%), diarrhea (13%) and anaemia (9%). Grade 1/2 dyspnea was observed in 3 (6.7%) patients. No ILD were reported. Variation LVEF was -1.72% on average (min: -18 %; max: 10 %). Conclusions: The triplet trastuzumab, pertuzumab and docetaxel is feasible and active in HER2 pretreated advanced NSCLC. These results confirm the activity of HER2 antibodies-based strategy which should be considered in these patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03845270.

Surgery is still the main treatment in early-stage of non-small cell lung cancer with 5-year survival of stage IA patients exceeding 80%, but 5-year survival of stage II patients rapidly decreasing with tumor size, N status, and visceral pleura invasion. The major metastatic risk in such patients has supported clinical research assessing systemic or loco-regional perioperative treatments. Modern phase 3 trials clearly validated adjuvant or neo-adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy in resected stage I-III patients as a standard treatment of which value has been reassessed several independent meta-analyses, showing a 5% benefit in 5y-survival, and a decrease of the relative risk for death around from 12 to 25%. Conversely perioperative treatments were not validated for stage IA and IB patients. In more advanced stage patients, neo-adjuvant radio-chemotherapy has not been validated either. Adjuvant radiotherapy for N2 patients is currently tested in the large international phase 3 trial Lung-ART/IFCT-0503. The development of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has helped adjuvant chemotherapies for elderly patients. Perioperative targeted treatments in NSCLC with EGFR or ALK molecular alterations is currently assessed in the U.S. ALCHEMIST prospective trial. Finally, the role of immune check-points inhibitors is currently evaluated in a large international phase 3 trial testing adjuvant anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, the BR31/IFCT-1401 trial, while a proof-of principle neo-adjuvant trial IONESCO/IFCT-1601, has just begun by the end of the 2016 year, with survival results of both trials expected in 5 to 7 years.