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Background Real-world data studies usually consider biases related to measured confounders. We emulate a target trial implementing study design principles of randomized trials to observational studies, controlling biases related to selection especially immortal time, and measured confounders. Methods This comprehensive analysis emulating a randomized clinical trial compared overall survival in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC), receiving as first-line treatment, either paclitaxel alone or combined to bevacizumab. We used data from 5,538 patients extracted from the Epidemio-Strategy-Medico-Economical (ESME) MBC cohort to emulate a target trial using advanced statistical adjustment techniques including stabilized inverse-probability weighting and G-computation, dealing with missing data with multiple imputation, and performing a quantitative bias analysis (QBA) for residual bias due to unmeasured confounders. Results Emulation lead to 3,211 eligible patients and overall survival estimates achieved with advanced statistical methods favored the combination therapy. Real-world effect sizes were close to that assessed in the existing E2100 randomized clinical trial (HR 0.88, p = 0.16), but the increased sample size allowed to achieve a higher level of precision in real-world estimates (ie, reduced confidence intervals). QBA confirmed the robustness of the results with respect to potential unmeasured confounding. Conclusion Target trial emulation with advanced statistical adjustment techniques is a promising approach to investigate long-term impact of innovative therapies in the French ESME-MBC cohort while minimizing biases, and provides opportunities for comparative efficacy through the synthetic control arms provided. Database registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT03275311

Cobimetinib combined with vemurafenib was available in France in 2015 through a 'Temporary Authorization for Use' program (TAU, preapproval access pending its marketing on 2016) for patients with v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1-mutant advanced melanoma. This study aimed to provide real-world outcomes in patients previously registered in this TAU. This noninterventional, ambispective, multicentre French study, conducted in patients previously registered in TAU, aimed to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and to describe the tolerability of the therapeutic combination. At first cobimetinib intake (in combination with vemurafenib), 88% of the 185 evaluable patients had disease stage IV (brain metastasis: 70% of them), 31% had elevated lactate dehydrogenases, and 10% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) index ≥2. Median OS was 16.1 months (95% CI, 12.5-20.7). Brain metastasis ( P0.001), ECOG index ≥2 ( P = 0.007), and hepatic impairment ( P = 0.037) were found as independent factors significantly associated with shorter survival. Median PFS was 7.3 months (95% CI, 5.2-8.4). ECOG index ≥2 ( P = 0.006) was significantly associated with shorter PFS. Between cobimetinib start and inclusion, increased CPK (3% of patients), retinal serous detachment (3%), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (3%), increased transaminases (3%), and rash (3%) were the most reported serious adverse events. This study provides real-world outcomes in France for the vemurafenib-cobimetinib combination available in patients with BRAF-mutant-advanced melanoma. Our data tend to confirm in the real-life setting that this combination therapy is effective in such patients, with a safety profile consistent with previous interventional studies.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are critical determinant of resistance to programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade. This phase I study (MEDIPLEX,NCT02777710) investigated the safety and efficacy of pexidartinib, a CSF-1R-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), and durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) in patients with advanced colorectal (CRC) and pancreatic (PDAC) carcinoma with the aim to enhance responses to PD-L1 blockade by eliminating CSF-1-dependent suppressive TAM. No unexpected toxicities were observed and 2% and 15% of patients achieved partial response and stable disease respectively. Increase of CSF-1 levels and decrease of CD14lowCD16highmonocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) confirmed CSF-1R engagement. Treatment significantly decreased blood dendritic cell (DC) subsets and impaired IFN-λ/IL-29 production by type-1 conventional DC inex vivoTLR3-stimulated PBMC. Pexidartinib also targets c-KIT and FLT3, both key growth factor receptors of DC development and maturation. In patients, FLT3-L levels increased with pexidartinib treatment.In vitro, pexidartinib impaired the FLT3-L but not GM-CSF-dependent generation of DC subsets from murine bone marrow progenitors. Our results demonstrate that pexidartinib, through the inhibition of FLT3 signaling, has deleterious effect on DC differentiation, which may explain the limited anti-tumor clinical activity observed in this study. This study suggests that inhibition of FLT3 should be taken into account when combining TKIs with immune checkpoint blockers.One-sentence summaryPexidartinib affects the development of dendritic cells

Introduction Multikinase inhibitor (MKI) treatments have shown efficacy in progressive radioiodine refractory thyroid cancers (RAIR-TC), but most patients experienced substantial adverse effects. This randomised multicentric study investigated intermittent versus continuous pazopanib administration. Patients and methods The PAZOTHYR study included RAIR-TC patients with progressive disease in the last 12 months, who may have received one prior MKI. RAIR-TC patients received pazopanib for 6 months, and patients with stable disease or tumour response were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive continuous (CP) or intermittent (IP) pazopanib until progression. The primary end-point was time to treatment failure (TTF) defined as the time from randomisation to permanent discontinuation of pazopanib, due to any cause. One hundred randomised patients were needed to demonstrate an increase from 50% (CP) to 70% (IP) (hazard ratio (HR) 0.515, 80% power) in the rate of patients still under treatment 6 months (6m-SuT) post-randomisation. Secondary end-points included the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) under pazopanib and safety. Results RAIR-TC patients (168) enrolled from June 18, 2013 to January 16, 2018, received 6-month pazopanib treatment and showed 35.6% (95% CI 28.2–43.6) best response rate and 89.4% (83.5–93.7) disease control rate. One hundred patients were randomised (IP:50; CP:50). With a median follow-up of 31.3 months, median TTF was not statistically different between arms (IP:14.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.3–17.4; CP:11.9, 95% CI 7.5–15.6) months (HR 0.79, 0.49–1.27). 6m-SuT rates were similar (IP:80% 66.0–88.7%; CP:78% 63.8–87.2%). Median PFS under pazopanib were not statistically different (IP:5.7 4.8–7.8; CP: 9.2 7.3–11.1) months (HR 1.36, 0.88–2.12). Pazopanib-related adverse events grade 3–4 occurred in 36 (IP: 19, 38%; CP: 17, 34%) randomised patients. Seven pazopanib-related deaths occurred. Conclusions Intermittent administration of pazopanib did not demonstrate significant superiority in efficacy or tolerance compared with continuous treatment. An intermittent administration scheme cannot be recommended outside clinical trials. This study was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov , number NCT01813136 .

The most appropriate criteria and timing for palliative care referral remain a critical issue, especially in patients with metastatic breast cancer for whom long-term chemosensibility and survival are observed. We aimed to compare the impact of early palliative care including formal concertation with oncologists on decision for an additional line of chemotherapy compared with usual oncology care.This randomized prospective study enrolled adult women with metastatic breast cancer and visceral metastases with a 3rd- or 4th-line chemotherapy (CT). Patients received usual oncology care with a palliative care consultation only upon patient or oncologist request (standard group, S) or were referred to systematic palliative care consultation including a regular concertation between palliative care team and oncologists (early palliative care group, EPC). The primary endpoint was the rate of an additional CT (4th or 5th line) decision. Quality of life, symptoms, social support and satisfaction were self-evaluated at 6 and 12 months, at treatment discontinuation or 3 months after discontinuation.From January 2009 to November 2012, two authorized cancer centers included 98 women (EPC: 50; S: 48). Thirty-seven (77.1%, 95%CI 62.7-88%) patients in the EPC group had a subsequent chemotherapy prescribed and 36 (72.0%, 95%CI 57.5-83.8%) in the S group (p = 0.646). No differences in symptom control and global quality of life were observed, but less deterioration in physical functioning was reported in EPC (EPC: 0 [- 53-40]; S: - 6; 7 [- 60 to - 20]; p = 0.027). Information exchange and communication were significant improved in EPC (exchange, EPC: - 8.3 [- 30 to + 7]; S: 0.0 [- 17 to + 23]; p = 0.024; communication, EPC: 12.5 [- 8 to - 37]; S: 0.0 [- 21 to + 17]; p = 0.004).EPC in metastatic breast cancer patients did not impact the prescription rate of additional chemotherapy in patients a 3rd- or 4th-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer; however, EPC may contribute to alleviate deterioration in physical functioning, while facilitating communication.ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT00905281, May 20, 2009.

Resistance of advanced hormone-dependent endometrial carcinoma to endocrine therapy remains a worldwide clinical issue. We recently reported that the combination of Vistusertib (V, mTOR inhibitor) and Anastrozole (A, aromatase inhibitor) improves the progression-free rate compared to Anastrozole alone. However, a better patient selection based on biomarkers would improve patient outcome. We evaluate for the first time the usage of ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) factors as a source of innovative markers. Using 47 FFPE tumours (A n = 18; V + A n = 29), 32 blood samples (A n = 13; V + A n = 19) and 30 samples of total RNAs (A n = 12; V + A n = 18) from the VICTORIA clinical trial, we observed an association between RiBi-associated markers and drug activity or prediction of treatment response. NOP10 and NHP2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in non-responders compared to responders in the Vistusertib + Anastrozole arm (P = 0.0194 and P = 0.0002 respectively; i.e. 8 weeks progression-free survival as endpoint). This study provides RiBi-based markers relevant for a better selection of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma by predicting the response of endocrine therapy combined with mTOR inhibitor.

Second primary cancers (SPC) account for 18% of all cancers. We used the enhanced medical/health data mining tool ConSoRe to search aggregated data, analyze electronic patient records (EPR), and better characterize patients with SPC. This retrospective cohort study used ConSoRe to identify EPRs from patients with SPC referred to the regional cancer center Leon Berard from 1993 to 2017, and examined characteristics of patients with SPC, frequencies of first primary cancer (FPC) localization in the global population of patients with SPC, and time to SPC. Data set was extracted on January 1, 2018. Among 296,530 EPRs, we identified 157,187 patients with FPC, including 13,002 (8%) patients with SPC. Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of SPC was 34%, and 52% of SPC were identified in the last years (2010–2017). In men, main cancers were head and neck cancer, lymphoma, and prostate carcinoma accounting for 15.6%, 12.8%, and 10.5% of FPC, while the three most common SPC were head and neck cancer (13.2%), lung cancer (11.8%) and lymphoma (9.2%). In women, breast cancers, lymphoma, and skin cancers accounted for 48.8%, 8%, and 5.1% of first cancers, and for 31.1%, 7% and 6% of SPC. The data mining tool ConSoRe contributes to access to real world data, and to better characterize patients with SPC. Expanding such approach to any comprehensive center will allow a global overview of the follow-up of patients with cancer, and help to improve long-term management and adapt surveillance.

NK cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes displaying strong antimetastatic activity. Mouse models and in vitro studies suggest a prominent role of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase in the control of NK cell homeostasis and antitumor functions. However, mTOR inhibitors are used as chemotherapies in several cancer settings. The impact of such treatments on patients’ NK cells is unknown. We thus performed immunophenotyping of circulating NK cells from metastatic breast cancer patients treated with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus over a three-month period. Everolimus treatment resulted in inhibition of mTORC1 activity in peripheral NK cells, whereas mTORC2 activity was preserved. NK cell homeostasis was profoundly altered with a contraction of the NK cell pool and an overall decrease in their maturation. Phenotype and function of the remaining NK cell population was less affected. This is, to our knowledge, the first in vivo characterization of the role of mTOR in human NK cells.

ImportanceWhile comprehensive tumor molecular profile by whole exome and RNA sequencing (WES/RNA-Seq) is now feasible in routine practice, it remains unclear whether this increases therapeutic options as compared to a more limited targeted gene panel (TGP) plus array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) in advanced cancer patients.ObjectiveTo determine the added value of WES/RNA-Seq in advanced and refractory cancer patients who had no molecular-based treatment recommendation (MBTR) based on a TGP/aCGH in the course of a clinical trial.DesignRetrospective analysis.SettingSingle center.ParticipantsWe selected 50 patients previously included in the PROFILER trial (NCT01774409) for which no molecular-based therapy could be recommended in the course of the clinical trial based on a targeted 90-gene panel and aCGH. For each patient, the frozen tumor sample mirroring the FFPE sample used for TGP/aCGH analysis were processed for WES and RNA-Seq. Data from TGP/aCGH were reanalyzed and together with WES/RNA-Seq, findings were simultaneously discussed at a new molecular tumor board (MTB).Main outcomes and MeasuresMBTR based on TGP/aCGH versus WES/RNA-Seq were compared.ResultsAfter exclusion of variants of unknown significance, a total of 167 somatic molecular alterations were identified in 50 patients (median: 3; range: 1-10). Out of these 167 relevant molecular alterations reported by the biologist, 51 (31%) were common to both TGP/aCGH and WES/RNA-Seq, 19 (11%) were identified by the TGP/aCGH only and 97 (58%) were identified by WES/RNA-Seq only, including 2 fusion transcripts in two patients. A MBRT was provided in 4/50 (8%) patients using the information from TGP/aCGH vs. 9/50 (18%) patients using WES/RNA-Seq findings. Three patients had similar recommendations based on TGP/aCGH and WES/RNA-Seq.Conclusion and RelevanceIn advanced and refractory cancer patients in whom no MBRT was recommended from TGP/aCGH, WES/RNA-Seq allowed to identify more alterations which may in turn, in a limited fraction of patients, lead to new MBRT.Key PointsQuestionDoes WES/RNA-Seq provide additional targeted treatment guidance for advanced cancer patients with no molecular-based treatment recommendation (MBTR) from a 90-tumor gene panel (TGP) sequencing and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH)?FindingsFor fifty advanced cancer patients included in the PROFILER trial with no treatment recommendation based on a TGP/aCGH, frozen tumor sample was processed for WES and RNA-Seq. MBTR was given in 4/50 (8%) patients using the reanalyzed TGP/aCGH vs. 9/50 (18%) patients using WES/RNA-Seq findings.MeaningsWES/RNA-Seq increased the number of patients with MBTR as compared to a TGP/aCGH screening to yet only a minority of patients.

International audience; La pandémie de coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) a conduit au déploiement d’un effort de recherche académique et industriel sans précédent dont on peut regretter le caractère parfois redondant ainsi que le manque de pilotage tant national qu’international. Pourtant, force est de constater qu’à l’occasion de cette crise, les procédures réglementaires ont été adaptées de même que certains freins dans l’organisation de la recherche clinique ont pu être en partie levés pour contribuer au déploiement d’essais au plus près des patients et faciliter les modalités de suivi et de contrôle. La digitalisation de certains processus et la décentralisation de certaines activités ont pu être mises en œuvre sous couvert d’une mobilisation des autorités et de l’ensemble des acteurs institutionnels, académiques ou industriels. Si outre-manche, l’optimisation des ressources, au travers d’un essai de plateforme unique, a permis de montrer ou d’infirmer l’efficacité de nombreux traitements, en France la crise sanitaire a mis en lumière la fragilité de l’organisation de la recherche clinique, notamment un déficit de coordination et de financement, des difficultés dans la mise en œuvre des études ou encore une certaine frilosité concernant le partage des données. Cependant, la crise a aussi révélé les capacités d’adaptation des différents acteurs et permis l’amélioration de plusieurs processus utiles au déploiement de l’innovation thérapeutique. Gageons que les leçons tirées à l’occasion de cette crise permettront une meilleure efficacité en cas de nouvelle pandémie et surtout que les progrès obtenus continueront de s’appliquer à l’ensemble des activités de recherche clinique futures.

Background: Bone-only (BO) metastatic breast cancer (MBC), defined as bone as unique site of metastasis at MBC diagnosis, is thought to carry a better prognosis among MBC. However, only small retrospective series and data from selected randomized controlled trials have been reported so far. Based on a national database, we aimed at providing a large comprehensive analysis of BO MBC, and at evaluating its impact on clinical outcome. Methods: The ESME MBC platform (NCT03275311) is a French multicenter retrospective real-life database using a clinical trial-like methodology to collect data from 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centers. It includes data from each newly diagnosed MBC patient having initiated at least one treatment between 2008 and 2016. BO cases occurring in women were retrieved and compared to the overall non-BO population, regarding treatment effects and survival. Results: Of the 22,463 women selected in the database, 5,041 (22.4%) patients with BO disease were identified. Most (N=4,102, 81.4%) had HR+/HER2- disease while 644 (12.8%) and 295 (5.9%) patients had HER2+ or HR-/HER2- disease, respectively. Compared to non-BO MBC, BO MBC patients were older in the global cohort and in HR-/HER2- patients (mean age 61.0y versus 59.5y, and 59.3y vs 56.4y, all p Conclusion: This large comprehensive study is the largest cohort of BO MBC to date. BO MBC has a distinct presentation from non-BO MBC and carry a better prognosis compared to non-BO MBC. A significant proportion of BO MBC patients have a very long survival and may benefit from aggressive local therapy, as stereotactic radiotherapy. Dedicated studies are warranted to tailor the management of these patients. Funding: This work was supported by UNICANCER. The ESME MBC database is supported by an industrial consortium (Roche, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, MSD, Eisai and Daiichi Sankyo). Data collection, analyses and publications are totally managed by R&D UNICANCER independently of the industrial consortium. TableBOBOBOBOnon-BOnon-BOnon-BOnon-BON (%)median OS monthsmedian PFS1 months5-year OS rate %N (%)median OS monthsmedian PFS1 months5-year OS rate %(95% CI)(95% CI)(95% CI)(95% CI)(95% CI)(95% CI)Overall population5,041 (100%)52.1 (50.3-54.1) 13.1 (12.6-13.8) 43.41 (41.66-45.15)15,054 (100%)34.7 (34.0-35.6) 8.5 (8.3-8.7) 30.55 (29.62-31.48)HR+/HER-4,102 (81.4%)52.6 (50.5-54.8)13.6 (13.0-14.3)43.52 (41.56-45.46)9,127 (60.6%) 39.0 (37.8-40.1)9.6 (9.3-9.9)32.69 (31.47-33.93)HER2+644 (12.8%)66.4 (59.8-71.9) 14.9 (12.9-17.3) 54.49 (49.54-59.16)3,265 (21.7%) 46.5 (44.2-48.9)10.6 (10.1-11.3)39.88 (37.77-41.98)HR-/HER2-295 (5.9%)20.8 (18.3-27.4) 5.6 (4.9-7.5)16.21 (11.21-22.02)2,662 (17.7%) 14.3 (13.6-15.1)4.8 (4.6-5.0)10.89 (9.4-12.5)De novo MBC patients1,909 (37.9%)58.6 (55.4-62.1)17.9 (17.0-18.9)48.24 (45.28-51.14)4,399 (29.2%) ---Relapsed MBC patients3,132 (62.1%)48.3 (46.5-50.5)10.7 (10.2-11.2)40.51 (38.34-42.67)10,655 (70.8%)--- Citation Format: Marion Bertho, Julien Fraisse, Anne Patsouris, Paul Cottu, Suzette Delaloge, David Pérol, Anne Jaffré, Anthony Goncalves, Marie-Paule Lebitasy, Véronique D'Hondt, Florence Dalenc, Jean-Marc Ferrero, Christelle Levy, Patrick Arveux, Roman Rouzier, Frédérique Penault-Llorca, Lionel Uwer, Jean-Christophe Eymard, Mathias Breton, Michaël Chevrot, Marianne Leheurteur, Michel Velten, Gaëtane Simon, Jean-Sébastien Frenel. Impact of bone-only metastatic breast cancer on outcome in a real-life setting: A comprehensive analysis of 5,041 women from the ESME database [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-19-01.

International audience; The COVID-19 pandemic led to the deployment of an unprecedented academic and industrial research effort, the sometimes redundant nature of which is regrettable, as is the lack of both national and international management. However, it must be noted that during this crisis, regulatory procedures were adapted and certain obstacles in the organisation of clinical research were partly removed to contribute to the deployment of trials as close as possible to patients and to facilitate monitoring and control procedures. The digitisation of certain processes and the decentralisation of certain activities were implemented under the cover of a mobilisation of the authorities and all institutional, academic and industrial players. While in the UK, the optimisation of resources through a single platform trial has made it possible to demonstrate or invalidate the efficacy of many treatments, in France the health crisis has highlighted the fragility of the organisation of clinical research, in particular a lack of coordination and funding, difficulties in implementing studies and a certain reluctance to share data. However, the crisis has also revealed the adaptability of the various stakeholders and has led to the improvement of several processes useful for the deployment of therapeutic innovation. Let us hope that the lessons learned during this crisis will allow for greater efficiency in the event of a new pandemic and, above all, that the progress made will continue to apply to all future clinical research activities.

International audience; Immunohistochemistry and recent molecular technologies progressively guided access to personalized anti-tumoral therapies. We explored the feasibility, efficacy, and the impact of molecular profiling in patients with advanced brain tumors. This multicentric prospective trial ProfiLER enrolled patients with primary brain tumors, who have been pre-treated with at least one line of anti-cancer treatment, and for whom molecular profiles had been achieved using next-generation sequencing and/or comparative genomic hybridization on fresh or archived samples from tumor, relapse, or biopsies. A molecular tumor board weekly analyzed results and proposed molecular-based recommended therapy (MBRT). From February 2013 to December 2015, we enrolled 141 patients with primary brain tumor and analyzed 105 patients for whom tumor genomic profiles had been achieved. Histology mainly identified glioblastoma (N = 46, 44%), low-grade glioma (N = 26, 25%), highgrade glioma (N = 12, 11%), and atypical and anaplastic meningioma (N = 8, 8%). Forty-three (41%) patients presented at least one actionable molecular alteration. Out of 61 alterations identified, the most frequent alterations occurred in CDKN2A (N = 18), EGFR (N = 12), PDGFRa (N = 8), PTEN (N = 8), CDK4 (N = 7), KIT (N = 6), PIK3CA (N = 5), and MDM2 (N = 3). Sixteen (15%) patients could not be proposed for a MBRT due to early death (N = 5), lack of available clinical trials (N = 9), or inappropriate results (N = 2). Only six (6%) of the 27 (26%) patients for whom a MBRT had been proposed finally initiated MBRT (everolimus (N = 3), erlotinib (N = 1), ruxolitinib (N = 1), and sorafenib (N = 1)), but discontinued treatment for toxicity (N = 4) or clinical progression (N = 2). High-throughput sequencing in patients with brain tumors may be routinely performed, especially when macroscopic surgery samples are available; nevertheless delays should be reduced. Criteria for clinical trial enrollment should be reconsidered in patients with brain tumors, and a panel of genes specifically dedicated to neurologic tumors should be developed to help decision-making in clinical practice.

Local control in sarcoma is rarely achieved with exclusive radiotherapy (RT). We aim to assess the feasibility and safety of sunitinib continuously administrated with concomitant RT in inoperable non-GIST sarcomas patients.This multicentric French 3 + 3 dose escalation study included patients with inoperable locally advanced or recurrent sarcoma, ECOG-PS2, ≤2 metastatic sites and no brain metastases, adequate organ functions and absence of uncontrolled hypertension, who had never received sunitinib or radiotherapy. The escalation phase planned to use sunitinib dose levels (DL1: 25; DL2: 37.5; DL3: 50 mg/day) with standard RT (60 Gy, 30 fractions, 5 fractions/week/6 weeks). The primary endpoint was to determine the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) in the first 14 weeks and the maximal tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary endpoints included safety (acute and late toxicities), local control at 6 months including local progression free rate (L-PFR) progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), proportion of patients eligible for surgery after treatment.From May 2011 to April 2016, the dose-escalation phase enrolled 10 patients (DL1 N = 4; DL2 N = 6). No DLT was observed in at DL1. One DLT (grade 4 thrombopenia) occurred at DL2. The 19 patients treated at DL2 (including the 13 patients from the expansion phase) received sunitinib for a median duration of 42.7 (2.8-79.1) days, and radiotherapy for 6.4 (1-8) weeks; all but 3 patients received 60 Gy (40 Gy, early progression (N = 1); 8 Gy, early death (N = 1), prescribed dose, 50 Gy (N = 1)). With a median follow-up of 19.5 (14-36.5) months, the median PFS was 6.5 (1.9-31.1) months. Median OS was not reached. At 6 months, L-PFR was 73.3% (95%CI 44.9%-92.2%). One patient was amendable to surgery after treatment. Sunitinib-related grade ≥ 3 adverse events occurred in 58% of the patients treated at DL2 (Escalation N = 4; Expansion N = 7). Seven (36.8%) deaths related to disease progression were reported.This is the first trial assessing the combination of continuous administration of sunitinib 37.5 mg with exclusive RT in non-GIST sarcoma. Whereas this combination was found feasible, efficient, further investigations of combinations of more recent multikinase inhibitors with RT need to be explored.

Introduction Despite safety and benefits of physical activity during treatment of localised breast cancer, successful exercise strategies remain to be determined. The primary objective of the ‘dispositif connecté’, that is, connected device in English trial is to evaluate the efficacy of two 6-month exercise interventions, either single or combined, concomitant to adjuvant treatments, on the physical activity level of patients with breast cancer, compared with usual care: an exercise programme using a connected device (activity tracker, smartphone application, website) and a therapeutic patient education intervention. Secondary objectives are to evaluate adherence to interventions, their impact at 6 and 12 months, representations and acceptability of interventions, and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the interventions using quality-adjusted life-years. Methods and analysis This is a 2×2 factorial, multicentre, phase III randomised controlled trial. The study population (with written informed consent) will consist of 432 women diagnosed with primary localised invasive breast carcinoma and eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy, hormonotherapy and/or radiotherapy. They will be randomly allocated between one of four arms: (1) web-based connected device (evolving target number of daily steps and an individualised, semisupervised, adaptive programme of two walking and one muscle strengthening sessions per week in autonomy), (2) therapeutic patient education (one educational diagnosis, two collective educational sessions, one evaluation), (3) combination of both interventions and (4) control. All participants will receive the international physical activity recommendations. Assessments (baseline, 6 and 12 months) will include physical fitness tests, anthropometrics measures, body composition (CT scan, bioelectrical impedance), self-administered questionnaires (physical activity profile (Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire), quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-Of-Life Questionnaire-30, EQ-5D-5L), fatigue (Piper Fatigue Scale-12), social deprivation (Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centres), lifestyle, physical activity barriers, occupational status) and biological parameters (blood draw). Ethics and dissemination This study was reviewed and approved by the French Ethics Committee. The findings will be disseminated to the scientific and medical community via publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. Trial registration number NCT03529383; Pre-results.

International audience; BackgroundGenome analysis could provide tools to assess predictive molecular biomarkers of radioresistance.MethodsHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients included in ProfiLER study and who underwent a curative radiotherapy were screened. Univariate and Cox multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationships between molecular abnormalities, infield relapse and complete tumor response after radiation.ResultsOne hundred and forty-three patients were analyzed. PIK3CA mutation and genomic instability of MAP kinases pathway were found to be prognostic factors of loco-regional relapse in multivariate analysis with respectively HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13–0.83, p = 0.005 and HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–0.96, p = 0.025. Instability of apoptosis pathway was found to be a prognostic factor of complete response after radiotherapy with HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07–0.88, p = 0.04.ConclusionThis sub analysis suggests that PIK3CA mutation, variation of copy number of MAP kinases and apoptosis pathways play a significant role in the radioresistance phenomenon

IMPORTANCE: Endometrial cancer is often hormone-dependent and treated with aromatase inhibitors. The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway deregulation observed in endometrial cancer drives hormonal resistance, thus supporting the rationale of combining mTOR inhibitor with endocrine therapy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vistusertib in combination with anastrozole in the treatment of women with hormone receptor−positive recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: The VICTORIA study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial that accrued 75 patients with hormone receptor−positive recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer from 12 cancer centers in France in April 2016 to October 2019. After a safety run-in period, a Simon 2-stage design was used. Data analyses were performed from December 11, 2020, to March 11, 2021. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to oral vistusertib (125 mg twice daily 2 days per week) and oral anastrozole (1 mg daily) in the combination vistusertib with anastrozole arm (V+A arm) or oral anastrozole alone (A arm). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was serious adverse events for the safety run-in period and progression-free rate at 8 weeks (8wk-PFR)—assessed with a blinded independent central review in phase 2. The secondary end points were objective response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients who were randomized, 73 (median [range] age, 69.5 [37-88] y; all female) were treated: V+A arm, 49 patients; A arm, 24 patients. In the V+A arm, the 8wk-PFR was 67.3% (unilateral 95% CI, 54.7%) and in the A arm, 39.1% (unilateral 95% CI, 22.2%). No significant serious adverse events were reported during the safety run-in period (n = 6 in V+A arm). The overall response rate was 24.5% (95% CI, 13.3%-38.9%) in the V+A arm vs 17.4% (95% CI, 5.0%-38.8%) in the A arm. With a median follow-up of 27.7 months, median PFS was 5.2 (95% CI, 3.4-8.9) in the V+A arm and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.6-8.9) months in the A arm. Fatigue, lymphopenia, hyperglycemia, and diarrhea were the most common (grade ≥2) adverse events associated with vistusertib. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This multicenter, open-label, phase 1/2 randomized clinical trial demonstrated that adding vistusertib to anastrozole improved 8wk-PFR, overall response rate, and PFS for patients with endometrial cancer and had manageable adverse events. Identification of molecular subgroups would allow for more precise selection of patients who may be most likely to experience favorable outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02730923

Background The impact of the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave on cancer patient management was measured within the nationwide network of the Unicancer comprehensive cancer centers in France. Patients and methods The number of patients diagnosed and treated within 17 of the 18 Unicancer centers was collected in 2020 and compared with that during the same periods between 2016 and 2019. Unicancer centers treat close to 20% of cancer patients in France yearly. The reduction in the number of patients attending the Unicancer centers was analyzed per regions and cancer types. The impact of delayed care on cancer-related deaths was calculated based on different hypotheses. Results A 6.8% decrease in patients managed within Unicancer in the first 7 months of 2020 versus 2019 was observed. This reduction reached 21% during April and May, and was not compensated in June and July, nor later until November 2020. This reduction was observed only for newly diagnosed patients, while the clinical activity for previously diagnosed patients increased by 4% similar to previous years. The reduction was more pronounced in women, in breast and prostate cancers, and for patients without metastasis. Using an estimated hazard ratio of 1.06 per month of delay in diagnosis and treatment of new patients, we calculated that the delays observed in the 5-month period from March to July 2020 may result in an excess mortality due to cancer of 1000-6000 patients in coming years. Conclusions In this study, the delays in cancer patient management were observed only for newly diagnosed patients, more frequently in women, for breast cancer, prostate cancer, and nonmetastatic cancers. These delays may result is an excess risk of cancer-related deaths in the coming years., Highlights • A reduction of the number of cancer patients attending cancer centers was observed in France from January to July 2020. • This reduction was observed only for newly diagnosed patients. • The reduction of new diagnosis was more pronounced in women, for breast cancer, and prostate cancer, and nonmetastatic cancer. • No compensation was observed for the last months of 2020. The magnitude of delays may be larger in centers within the same country. • An estimation of the excess cancer death resulting from these delays is presented.

Background A current critical need remains in the identification of prognostic and predictive markers in early breast cancer. It appears that a distinctive trait of cancer cells is their addiction to hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis. Thus, ribosome biogenesis might be an innovative source of biomarkers that remains to be evaluated. Methods Here, fibrillarin (FBL) was used as a surrogate marker of ribosome biogenesis due to its essential role in the early steps of ribosome biogenesis and its association with poor prognosis in breast cancer when overexpressed. Using 3,275 non-metastatic primary breast tumors, we analysed FBL mRNA expression levels and protein nucleolar organisation. Usage of TCGA dataset allowed transcriptomic comparison between the different FBL expression levels-related breast tumours. Results We unexpectedly discovered that in addition to breast tumours expressing high level of FBL, about 10% of the breast tumors express low level of FBL. A correlation between low FBL mRNA level and lack of FBL detection at protein level using immunohistochemistry was observed. Interestingly, multivariate analyses revealed that these low FBL tumors displayed poor outcome compared to current clinical gold standards. Transcriptomic data revealed that FBL expression is proportionally associated with distinct amount of ribosomes, low FBL level being associated with low amount of ribosomes. Moreover, the molecular programs supported by low and high FBL expressing tumors were distinct. Conclusion Altogether, we identified FBL as a powerful ribosome biogenesis-related independent marker of breast cancer outcome. Surprisingly we unveil a dual association of the ribosome biogenesis FBL factor with prognosis. These data suggest that hyper- but also hypo-activation of ribosome biogenesis are molecular traits of distinct tumors.