Janet Dancey

Background Assessment of the change in tumour burden is an important feature of the clinical evaluation of cancer therapeutics: both tumour shrinkage (objective response) and disease progression are useful endpoints in clinical trials. Since RECIST was published in 2000, many investigators, cooperative groups, industry and government authorities have adopted these criteria in the assessment of treatment outcomes. However, a number of questions and issues have arisen which have led to the development of a revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Evidence for changes, summarised in separate papers in this special issue, has come from assessment of a large data warehouse (>6500 patients), simulation studies and literature reviews. Highlights of revised RECIST 1.1 Major changes include: Number of lesions to be assessed: based on evidence from numerous trial databases merged into a data warehouse for analysis purposes, the number of lesions required to assess tumour burden for response determination has been reduced from a maximum of 10 to a maximum of five total (and from five to two per organ, maximum). Assessment of pathological lymph nodes is now incorporated: nodes with a short axis of ⩾15 mm are considered measurable and assessable as target lesions. The short axis measurement should be included in the sum of lesions in calculation of tumour response. Nodes that shrink to <10 mm short axis are considered normal. Confirmation of response is required for trials with response primary endpoint but is no longer required in randomised studies since the control arm serves as appropriate means of interpretation of data. Disease progression is clarified in several aspects: in addition to the previous definition of progression in target disease of 20% increase in sum, a 5 mm absolute increase is now required as well to guard against over calling PD when the total sum is very small. Furthermore, there is guidance offered on what constitutes ‘unequivocal progression’ of non-measurable/non-target disease, a source of confusion in the original RECIST guideline. Finally, a section on detection of new lesions, including the interpretation of FDG-PET scan assessment is included. Imaging guidance: the revised RECIST includes a new imaging appendix with updated recommendations on the optimal anatomical assessment of lesions. Future work A key question considered by the RECIST Working Group in developing RECIST 1.1 was whether it was appropriate to move from anatomic unidimensional assessment of tumour burden to either volumetric anatomical assessment or to functional assessment with PET or MRI. It was concluded that, at present, there is not sufficient standardisation or evidence to abandon anatomical assessment of tumour burden. The only exception to this is in the use of FDG-PET imaging as an adjunct to determination of progression. As is detailed in the final paper in this special issue, the use of these promising newer approaches requires appropriate clinical validation studies.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether treatment with single-agent docetaxel would result in longer survival than would best supportive care in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer who had previously been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Secondary end points included assessment of response (docetaxel arm only), toxicity, and quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with performance statuses of 0 to 2 and stage IIIB/IV non–small-cell lung cancer with either measurable or evaluable lesions were eligible for entry onto the study if they had undergone one or more platinum-based chemotherapy regimens and if they had adequate hematology and biochemistry parameters. They were excluded if they had symptomatic brain metastases or if they had previously been treated with paclitaxel. Patients were stratified by performance status and best response to cisplatin chemotherapy and were then randomized to treatment with docetaxel 100 mg/m 2 (49 patients) or 75 mg/m 2 (55 patients) or best supportive care. Patients in both arms were assessed every 3 weeks. RESULTS: One hundred four patients (103 of whom were eligible for entry onto the study) were well balanced for prognostic factors. Of 84 patients with measurable lesions, six (7.1%) achieved partial responses (three patients at each dose level). Time to progression was longer for docetaxel patients than for best supportive care patients (10.6 v 6.7 weeks, respectively; P &lt; .001), as was median survival (7.0 v 4.6 months; log-rank test, P = .047). The difference was more significant for docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 patients, compared with corresponding best supportive care patients (7.5 v 4.6 months; log-rank test, P = .010; 1-year survival, 37% v 11%; χ 2 test, P = .003). Febrile neutropenia occurred in 11 patients treated with docetaxel 100 mg/m 2 , three of whom died, and in one patient treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 . Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity, with the exception of diarrhea, occurred at a similar rate in both the docetaxel and best supportive care groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with docetaxel is associated with significant prolongation of survival, and at a dose of 75 mg/m 2 , the benefits of docetaxel therapy outweigh the risks.

<h2>Summary</h2> Tumours respond differently to immunotherapies compared with chemotherapeutic drugs, raising questions about the assessment of changes in tumour burden—a mainstay of evaluation of cancer therapeutics that provides key information about objective response and disease progression. A consensus guideline—iRECIST—was developed by the RECIST working group for the use of modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST version 1.1) in cancer immunotherapy trials, to ensure consistent design and data collection, facilitate the ongoing collection of trial data, and ultimate validation of the guideline. This guideline describes a standard approach to solid tumour measurements and definitions for objective change in tumour size for use in trials in which an immunotherapy is used. Additionally, it defines the minimum datapoints required from future trials and those currently in development to facilitate the compilation of a data warehouse to use to later validate iRECIST. An unprecedented number of trials have been done, initiated, or are planned to test new immune modulators for cancer therapy using a variety of modified response criteria. This guideline will allow consistent conduct, interpretation, and analysis of trials of immunotherapies.

<h2>Abstract</h2> The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) were developed and published in 2000, based on the original World Health Organisation guidelines first published in 1981. In 2009, revisions were made (RECIST 1.1) incorporating major changes, including a reduction in the number of lesions to be assessed, a new measurement method to classify lymph nodes as pathologic or normal, the clarification of the requirement to confirm a complete response or partial response and new methodologies for more appropriate measurement of disease progression. The purpose of this paper was to summarise the questions posed and the clarifications provided as an update to the 2009 publication.

CNS metastases are the most common cause of malignant brain tumours in adults. Historically, patients with brain metastases have been excluded from most clinical trials, but their inclusion is now becoming more common. The medical literature is difficult to interpret because of substantial variation in the response and progression criteria used across clinical trials. The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) working group is an international, multidisciplinary effort to develop standard response and progression criteria for use in clinical trials of treatment for brain metastases. Previous efforts have focused on aspects of trial design, such as patient population, variations in existing response and progression criteria, and challenges when incorporating neurological, neuro-cognitive, and quality-of-life endpoints into trials of patients with brain metastases. Here, we present our recommendations for standard response and progression criteria for the assessment of brain metastases in clinical trials. The proposed criteria will hopefully facilitate the development of novel approaches to this difficult problem by providing more uniformity in the assessment of CNS metastases across trials.

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa; AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE), a novel epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.This was an open-label, single-center phase II trial. Fifty-seven patients with first recurrence of a glioblastoma who were previously treated with surgical resection, radiation, and usually chemotherapy underwent an open biopsy or resection at evaluation for confirmation of tumor recurrence. Each patient initially received 500 mg of gefitinib orally once daily; dose escalation to 750 mg then 1,000 mg, if a patient received enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs or dexamethasone, was allowed within each patient.Although no objective tumor responses were seen among the 53 assessable patients, only 21% of patients (11 of 53 patients) had measurable disease at treatment initiation. Seventeen percent of patients (nine of 53 patients) underwent at least six 4-week cycles, and the 6-month event-free survival (EFS) was 13% (seven of 53 patients). The median EFS time was 8.1 weeks, and the median overall survival (OS) time from treatment initiation was 39.4 weeks. Adverse events were generally mild (grade 1 or 2) and consisted mainly of skin reactions and diarrhea. Drug-related toxicities were more frequent at higher doses. Withdrawal caused by drug-related adverse events occurred in 6% of patients (three of 53 patients). Although the presence of diarrhea positively predicted favorable OS from treatment initiation, epidermal growth factor receptor expression did not correlate with either EFS or OS.Gefitinib is well tolerated and has activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Further study of this agent at higher doses is warranted.

Temsirolimus (CCI-779) is a small-molecule inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and represents a rational therapeutic target against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).Recurrent GBM patients with < or = 1 chemotherapy regimen for progressive disease were eligible. Temsirolimus was administered in a 250-mg intravenous dose weekly.Sixty-five patients were treated. The incidence of grade 3 or higher nonhematologic toxicity was 51%, and consisted mostly of hypercholesterolemia (11%), hypertriglyceridemia (8%), and hyperglycemia (8%). Grade 3 hematologic toxicity was observed in 11% of patients. Temsirolimus peak concentration (Cmax), and sirolimus Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve were decreased in patients receiving p450 enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (EIACs) by 73%, 47%, and 50%, respectively, but were still within the therapeutic range of preclinical models. Twenty patients (36%) had evidence of improvement in neuroimaging, consisting of decrease in T2 signal abnormality +/- decrease in T1 gadolinium enhancement, on stable or reduced steroid doses. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 7.8% and median overall survival was 4.4 months. Median time to progression (TTP) for all patients was 2.3 months and was significantly longer for responders (5.4 months) versus nonresponders (1.9 months). Development of grade 2 or higher hyperlipidemia in the first two treatment cycles was associated with a higher percentage of radiographic response (71% v 31%; P = .04). Significant correlation was observed between radiographic improvement and high levels of phosphorylated p70s6 kinase in baseline tumor samples (P = .04).Temsirolimus is well tolerated in recurrent GBM patients. Despite the effect of EIACs on temsirolimus metabolism, therapeutic levels were achieved. Radiographic improvement was observed in 36% of temsirolimus-treated patients, and was associated with significantly longer TTP. High levels of phosphorylated p70s6 kinase in baseline tumor samples appear to predict a patient population more likely to derive benefit from treatment. These findings should be validated in other studies of mTOR inhibitors.

Purpose: Loss of PTEN, which is common in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), results in activation of the mammalian target of rapapmycin (mTOR), thereby increasing mRNA translation of a number of key proteins required for cell-cycle progression. CCI-779 is an inhibitor of mTOR. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of CCI-779 in patients with recurrent GBM and to further assess the toxicity of the drug. Experimental Design: CCI-779 was administered weekly at a dose of 250 mg intravenously for patients on enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs (EIAEDs). Patients not on EIAEDs were initially treated at 250 mg; however, the dose was reduced to 170 mg because of intolerable side effects. Treatment was continued until unacceptable toxicity, tumor progression, or patient withdrawal. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival. Results: Forty-three patients were enrolled; 29 were not on EIAEDs. The expected toxicity profile of increased lipids, lymphopenia, and stomatitis was seen. There were no grade IV hematological toxicities and no toxic deaths. One patient was progression free at 6 months. Of the patients assessable for response, there were 2 partial responses and 20 with stabilization of disease. The median time to progression was 9 weeks. Conclusions: CCI-779 was well tolerated at this dose schedule; however, there was no evidence of efficacy in patients with recurrent GBM. Despite initial disease stabilization in approximately 50% of patients, the durability of response was short. Because of the low toxicity profile, CCI-779 may merit exploration in combination with other modalities.

To compare the selective matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BAY 12-9566 with the nucleoside analog gemcitabine in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.Patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma who had not previously received chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive BAY 12-9566 800 mg orally bid continuously or gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 administered intravenously on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, and 43 for the first 8 weeks, and then days 1, 8, and 15 of each subsequent 28-day cycle. The primary end point was overall survival; secondary end points were progression-free survival, tumor response, quality of life, and clinical benefit. The planned sample size of the study was 350 patients. Two formal interim analyses were planned.The study was closed to accrual after the second interim analysis on the basis of the recommendation of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group Data Safety Monitoring Committee. There were 277 patients enrolled onto the study, 138 in the BAY 12-9566 arm and 139 in the gemcitabine arm. The rates of serious toxicity were low in both arms. The median survival for the BAY 12-9566 arm and the gemcitabine arm was 3.74 months and 6.59 months, respectively (P <.001; stratified log-rank test). The median progression-free survival for the BAY 12-9566 and gemcitabine arms was 1.68 and 3.5 months, respectively (P <.001). Quality-of-life analysis also favored gemcitabine.Gemcitabine is significantly superior to BAY 12-9566 in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Purpose Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor gene, and loss of function mutations are common and appear to be important in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinomas. Loss of PTEN causes deregulated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/serine-threonine kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling which may provide neoplastic cells with a selective survival advantage by enhancing angiogenesis, protein translation, and cell cycle progression. Temsirolimus, an ester derivative of rapamycin that inhibits mTOR, was evaluated in this setting. Patients and Methods Sequential phase II studies evaluated single-agent activity of temsirolimus in women with recurrent or metastatic chemotherapy-naive or chemotherapy-treated endometrial cancer. Temsirolimus 25 mg intravenously was administered weekly in 4-week cycles. Results In the chemotherapy-naive group, 33 patients received a median of four cycles (range, one to 23 cycles). Of the 29 patients evaluable for response, four (14%) had an independently confirmed partial response and 20 (69%) had stable disease as best response, with a median duration of 5.1 months (range, 3.7 to 18.4 months) and 9.7 months (range, 2.1 to 14.6 months). Only five patients (18%) had progressive disease. In the chemotherapy-treated group, 27 patients received a median of three cycles (range, one to six cycles). Of the 25 patients evaluable for response, one (4%) had an independently confirmed partial response, and 12 patients (48%) had stable disease, with a median duration of 4.3 months (range, 3.6 to 4.9 months) and 3.7 months (range, 2.4 to 23.2 months). PTEN loss (immunohistochemistry and mutational analysis) and molecular markers of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway did not correlate with the clinical outcome. Conclusion mTOR inhibition with temsirolimus has encouraging single-agent activity in endometrial cancer which is higher in chemotherapy-naive patients than in chemotherapy-treated patients and is independent of PTEN status. The difference in activity according to prior therapy should be factored into future clinical trial designs.

Alterations of signal transduction pathways leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastases are hallmarks of the carcinogenic process. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the Raf/mitogen-activated and extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways are critical for normal human physiology, and also commonly dysregulated in several human cancers, including breast cancer (BC). In vitro and in vivo data suggest that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK cascades are interconnected with multiple points of convergence, cross-talk, and feedback loops. Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway mutations may co-exist. Inhibition of one pathway can still result in the maintenance of signaling via the other (reciprocal) pathway. The existence of such “escape” mechanisms implies that dual targeting of these pathways may lead to superior efficacy and better clinical outcome in selected patients. Several clinical trials targeting one or both pathways are already underway in BC patients. The toxicity profile of this novel approach of dual pathway inhibition needs to be closely monitored, given the important physiological role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. In this article, we present a review of the current relevant pre-clinical and clinical data and discuss the rationale for dual inhibition of these pathways in the treatment of BC patients.

Personalized cancer medicine is based on increased knowledge of the cancer mutation repertoire and availability of agents that target altered genes or pathways. Given advances in cancer genetics, technology, and therapeutics development, the timing is right to develop a clinical trial and research framework to move future clinical decisions from heuristic to evidence-based decisions. Although the challenges of integrating genomic testing into cancer treatment decision making are wide-ranging and complex, there is a scientific and ethical imperative to realize the benefits of personalized cancer medicine, given the overwhelming burden of cancer and the unprecedented opportunities for advancements in outcomes for patients. Personalized cancer medicine is based on increased knowledge of the cancer mutation repertoire and availability of agents that target altered genes or pathways. Given advances in cancer genetics, technology, and therapeutics development, the timing is right to develop a clinical trial and research framework to move future clinical decisions from heuristic to evidence-based decisions. Although the challenges of integrating genomic testing into cancer treatment decision making are wide-ranging and complex, there is a scientific and ethical imperative to realize the benefits of personalized cancer medicine, given the overwhelming burden of cancer and the unprecedented opportunities for advancements in outcomes for patients.

Standard cytotoxic treatments for neuroendocrine tumours have been associated with limited activity and remarkable toxicity. A phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacodynamics of temsirolimus in patients with advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC). Thirty-seven patients with advanced progressive NEC received intravenous weekly doses of 25 mg of temsirolimus. Patients were evaluated for tumour response, time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AE). Twenty-two archival specimens, as well as 13 paired tumour biopsies obtained pretreatment and after 2 weeks of temsirolimus were assessed for potential predictive and correlative markers. The intent-to-treat response rate was 5.6% (95% CI 0.6-18.7%), median TTP 6 months and 1-year OS rate 71.5%. The most frequent drug-related AE of all grades as percentage of patients were: fatigue (78%), hyperglycaemia (69%) and rash/desquamation (64%). Temsirolimus effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of S6 (P=0.02). Higher baseline levels of pmTOR (phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin) (P=0.01) predicted for a better response. Increases in pAKT (P=0.041) and decreases in pmTOR (P=0.048) after treatment were associated with an increased TTP. Temsirolimus appears to have little activity and does not warrant further single-agent evaluation in advanced NEC. Pharmacodynamic analysis revealed effective mTOR pathway downregulation.

Growth factor overexpression, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, is common in hepatocellular cancers. Erlotinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with specificity for EGFR. The primary objective of this study was to determine the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with erlotinib who were alive and progression-free (PFS) at 16 weeks of continuous treatment.Patients with unresectable HCC, no prior systemic therapy, performance status (PS) of 0, 1, or 2, and Childs-Pugh (CP) cirrhosis A or B received oral erlotinib 150 mg daily for 28-day cycles. Tumor response was assessed every 2 cycles by using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST; National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Bethesda, Md) criteria. Patients accrued to either "low" or "high" EGFR expression cohorts; each cohort had stopping rules applied when there was a lack of efficacy.Forty HCC patients were enrolled. Median age was 64 years (range, 33-83 years), sex distribution was 32 males and 8 females, performance scores were 40% PS 0, 55% PS 1, Childs-Pugh distribution was 75% A and 20% B. There were no complete or partial responses; however, 17 of 40 patients achieved stable disease at 16 weeks of continuous therapy. The PFS at 16 weeks was 43%, and the median overall survival (OS) was 43 weeks (10.75 months). No patients required dose reductions of erlotinib. No correlation between EGFR expression and outcome was found.Results of this study indicated that single-agent erlotinib is well tolerated and has modest disease-control benefit in HCC, manifested as modestly prolonged PFS and OS when compared with historical controls.

Patients with (a) recurrent malignant glioma (MG): glioblastoma (GBM) or recurrent anaplastic glioma (AG), and (b) nonprogressive (NP) GBM following radiation therapy (RT) were eligible. Primary objective for recurrent MG was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6) and overall survival at 12 months for NP GBM post-RT. Secondary objectives for recurrent MGs were response, survival, assessment of toxicity, and pharmacokinetics (PKs). Treatment with enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs was not allowed. Patients received 150 mg/day erlotinib. Patients requiring surgery were treated 7 days prior to tumor removal for PK analysis and effects of erlotinib on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and intracellular signaling pathways. Ninety-six patients were evaluable (53 recurrent MG and 43 NP GBM); 5 patients were not evaluable for response. PFS-6 in recurrent GBM was 3% with a median PFS of 2 months; PFS-6 in recurrent AG was 27% with a median PFS of 2 months. Twelve-month survival was 57% in NP GBMs post-RT. Primary toxicity was dermatologic. The tissue-to-plasma ratio normalized to nanograms per gram dry weight for erlotinib and OSI-420 ranged from 25% to 44% and 30% to 59%, respectively, for pretreated surgical patients. No effect on EGFR or intratumoral signaling was seen. Patients with NP GBM post-RT who developed rash in cycle 1 had improved survival (P < .001). Single-agent activity of erlotinib is minimal for recurrent MGs and marginally beneficial following RT for NP GBM patients. Development of rash in cycle 1 correlates with survival in patients with NP GBM after RT.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a validated target in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck, but in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, EGFR targeting agents have displayed modest efficacy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis has been implicated as a mechanism of resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. In this multi-institutional phase I/II study we combined an EGFR inhibitor, erlotinib, with an anti-VEGF antibody, bevacizumab.Between April 15, 2003, and Jan 27, 2005, patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled from seven centres in the USA and were given erlotinib (150 mg daily) and bevacizumab in escalating dose cohorts. The primary objectives in the phase I and II sections, respectively, were to establish the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity of bevacizumab when administered with erlotinib and to establish the proportion of objective responses and time to disease progression. Pretreatment serum and tissues were collected and analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence quantitative laser analysis, respectively. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00055913.In the phase I section of the trial, ten patients were enrolled in three successive cohorts with no dose-limiting toxic effects noted. 46 patients were enrolled in the phase II section of the trial (including three patients from the phase I section) on the highest dose of bevacizumab (15 mg/kg every 3 weeks). Two additional patients were accrued beyond the protocol-stipulated 46, leaving a total of 48 patients for the phase II assessment. The most common toxic effects of any grade were rash and diarrhoea (41 and 16 of 48 patients, respectively). Three patients had serious bleeding events of grade 3 or higher. Seven patients had a response, with four showing a complete response allowing rejection of the null hypothesis. Median time of overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were 7.1 months (95% CI 5.7-9.0) and 4.1 months (2.8-4.4), respectively. Higher ratios of tumour-cell phosphorylated VEGF receptor-2 (pVEGFR2) over total VEGFR2 and endothelial-cell pEGFR over total EGFR in pretreatment biopsies were associated with complete response (0.704 vs 0.386, p=0.036 and 0.949 vs 0.332, p=0.036, respectively) and tumour shrinkage (p=0.007 and p=0.008, respectively) in a subset of 11 patients with available tissue.The combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab is well tolerated in recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. A few patients seem to derive a sustained benefit and complete responses were associated with expression of putative targets in pretreatment tumour tissue.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Investigational Drug Steering Committee (IDSC) charged the Biomarker Task Force to develop recommendations to improve the decisions about incorporation of biomarker studies in early investigational drug trials. The Task Force members reviewed biomarker trials, the peer-reviewed literature, NCI and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance documents, and conducted a survey of investigators to determine practices and challenges to executing biomarker studies in clinical trials of new drugs in early development. This document provides standard definitions and categories of biomarkers, and lists recommendations to sponsors and investigators for biomarker incorporation into such trials. Our recommendations for sponsors focus on the identification and prioritization of biomarkers and assays, the coordination of activities for the development and use of assays, and for operational activities. We also provide recommendations for investigators developing clinical trials with biomarker studies for scientific rationale, assay criteria, trial design, and analysis. The incorporation of biomarker studies into early drug trials is complex. Thus the decision to proceed with studies of biomarkers should be based on balancing the strength of science, assay robustness, feasibility, and resources with the burden of proper sample collection on the patient and potential impact of the results on drug development. The Task Force provides these guidelines in the hopes that improvements in biomarker studies will enhance the efficiency of investigational drug development.

Radiologic imaging of disease sites plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with cancer. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST), introduced in 2000, and modified in 2009, has become the de facto standard for assessment of response in solid tumours in patients on clinical trials. The RECIST Working Group considers the ability of the global oncology community to implement and adopt updates to RECIST in a timely manner to be critical. Updates to RECIST must be tested, validated and implemented in a standardised, methodical manner in response to therapeutic and imaging technology advances as well as experience gained by users. This was the case with the development of RECIST 1.1, where an expanded data warehouse was developed to test and validate modifications. Similar initiatives are ongoing, testing RECIST in the evaluation of response to non-cytotoxic agents, immunotherapies, as well as in specific diseases. The RECIST Working Group has previously outlined the level of evidence considered necessary to formally and fully validate new imaging markers as an appropriate end-point for clinical trials. Achieving the optimal level of evidence desired is a difficult feat for phase III trials; this involves a meta-analysis of multiple prospective, randomised multicentre clinical trials. The rationale for modifications should also be considered; the modifications may be proposed to improve surrogacy, to provide a more mechanistic imaging technique, or be designed to improve reproducibility of the imaging biomarker. Here, we present the commonly described modifications of RECIST, each of which is associated with different levels of evidence and validation.

Agents inhibiting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (PAM) pathway are currently in various stages of clinical development in oncology, ranging from some in early-phase evaluations to others that have already received regulatory approval for treatment in advanced cancers. The administration of PAM pathway inhibitors has been associated with metabolic toxicities of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. The PAM Task Force of the National Cancer Institute Investigational Drug Steering Committee convened an interdisciplinary expert panel to review the pathophysiology of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia induced by PAM pathway inhibitors, summarize the incidence of these metabolic toxicities induced by such agents in the current literature, advise on clinical trial screening and monitoring criteria, and provide management guidance and therapeutic goals on occurrence of these toxicities. The overarching aim of this consensus report is to raise awareness of these metabolic adverse events to enable their early recognition, regular monitoring, and timely intervention in clinical trials. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are generally not acutely toxic and most often reversible with therapeutic intervention. Dose modifications or discontinuation of PAM pathway inhibitors should only be considered in situations of severe events or if progressive metabolic derangement persists after therapeutic interventions have been attempted for a sufficient duration. Specialty consultation should be sought to aid clinical trial planning and the management of these metabolic adverse events.

Purpose Expression of erbB2 and/or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with biologic aggressiveness and poor prognosis in malignant salivary gland tumors (MSGTs). This phase II study was conducted to determine the antitumor activity of lapatinib, a dual inhibitor of EGFR and erbB2 tyrosine kinase activity, in MSGTs. Patients and Methods Patients with progressive, recurrent, or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) immunohistochemically expressing at least 1+ EGFR and/or 2+ erbB2 were treated with lapatinib 1,500 mg daily, in a two-stage cohort. Patients with non-ACC MSGTs were treated as a separate single-stage cohort. Results Of 62 patients screened, 29 of 33 (88%) ACC and 28 of 29 (97%) non-ACC patients expressed EGFR and/or erbB2. Forty patients with progressive disease were enrolled onto the study. Among 19 assessable ACC patients, there were no objective responses, 15 patients (79%) had stable disease (SD), nine patients (47%) had SD ≥ 6 months, and four patients (21%) had progressive disease (PD). For 17 assessable non-ACC patients, there were no objective responses, eight patients (47%) had SD, four patients (24%) had SD ≥ 6 months, and nine patients (53%) had PD. The most frequent adverse events were grade 1 to 2 diarrhea, fatigue, and rash. Eight paired tumor biopsies for correlative studies were procured; results did not correlate with clinical outcome. Conclusion Although no responses were observed, lapatinib was well tolerated, with prolonged tumor stabilization of ≥ 6 months in 36% (95% CI, 21% to 54%) of assessable patients. The antitumor effects of lapatinib in MGSTs appear mainly cytostatic, hence evaluation of other molecular targeted agents, or combinations with lapatinib, may be considered. Continued efforts should be made to gain better understanding into the biology of this heterogeneous group of malignancies.

Purpose We conducted a two-phase clinical trial in patients with progressive malignant glioma (MG). The first phase of this trial was designed to determine the dose of O 6 -BG effective in producing complete depletion of tumor AGT activity for 48 hours. The second phase of the trial was designed to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a single dose of temozolomide when combined with O 6 -BG. In addition, plasma concentrations of O 6 -BG and O 6 -benzyl-8-oxoguanine were evaluated after O 6 -BG. Patients and Methods For our first phase of the clinical trial, patients were scheduled to undergo craniotomy for AGT determination after receiving a 1-hour O 6 -BG infusion at 120 mg/m 2 followed by a continuous infusion at an initial dose of 30 mg/m 2 /d for 48 hours. The dose of the continuous infusion of O 6 -BG escalated until tumor AGT was depleted. Once the O 6 -BG dose was established a separate group of patients was enrolled in the second phase of clinical trial, in which temozolomide, administered as a single dose at the end of the 1-hour O 6 -BG infusion, was escalated until the MTD was determined. Results The O 6 -BG dose found to be effective in depleting tumor AGT activity at 48 hours was an IV bolus of 120 mg/m 2 over 1 hour followed by a continuous infusion of 30 mg/m 2 /d for 48 hours. On enrolling 38 patients in six dose levels of temozolomide, the MTD was established at 472 mg/m 2 with dose-limiting toxicities limited to myelosuppression. Conclusion This study provides the foundation for a phase II trial of O 6 -BG plus temozolomide in temozolomide-resistant MG.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the multitargeted antifolate LY231514 (MTA) in patients receiving initial chemotherapy for unresectable, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Patients with measurable, advanced NSCLC who had not received previous chemotherapy for advanced disease were considered for this study. Eligible patients who gave written informed consent initially received MTA 600 mg/m(2) intravenously (IV) for 10 minutes every 3 weeks. After three patients received treatment at this dose, the dose was reduced to 500 mg/m(2) IV at the same infusion time and frequency because of toxicity seen in this study and another Canadian MTA trial in colorectal cancer. Patients received up to four cycles after complete or partial remission or six cycles after stable disease was documented.Thirty-three patients were accrued onto the study. All were assessable for toxicity, and 30 patients were assessable for response. All but one patient had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1, 18 patients (55%) had adenocarcinoma, and nine patients (27%) had squamous cell carcinoma. Twenty-five patients (76%) had stage IV disease, and the remainder had stage IIIB disease at trial entry. Seven patients experienced a confirmed partial response and no complete responses were seen; thus, the overall response rate was 23.3% (95% confidence interval, 9.9% to 42.3%). The median duration of response was 3.1 months (range, 2. 3 to 13.5 months) after a median follow-up period of 7.9 months. Four (67%) of six patients with stage IIIB disease and three (12.5%) of 24 with stage IV disease responded to treatment. Four patients (13.3%) experienced febrile neutropenia and 13 (39%) experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, whereas only one patient (3%) developed grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was generally mild or moderate, but 39% of patients developed a grade 3 skin rash. Most other toxicities comprised grade 1 or 2 stomatitis, diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia. Ten patients stopped protocol therapy because of toxicity.MTA seems to have clinically meaningful activity as a single agent against advanced NSCLC. Toxicity is generally mild and tolerable. Further study of this agent in combination with cisplatin and other active drugs is warranted in this disease.

Aberrant signalling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with neoplastic cell proliferation, migration, stromal invasion, resistance to apoptosis, and angiogenesis. The high frequency of abnormalities in EGFR signalling in human carcinomas and gliomas and laboratory studies showing that inhibition of EGFRcan impair tumour growth means that EGFR is an attractive target for the development of cancer therapeutics. Among the classes of agents targeting EGFR in clinical development are monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the receptor, and small molecules that inhibit activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase. Although there are pharmacological and mechanistic differences between the two classes of inhibitor, preclinical studies suggest they both inhibit cell proliferation and have additive or synergistic cytotoxicity with standard therapies. Results from early clinical trials indicate that these agents are well tolerated and have anti-tumour activity.In May, 2003, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and the US Food and Drug Administration approved the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa) for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with chemotherapy. The US approval was based on results of a phase 2 study of 216 patients with NSCLC, including 142 patients with refractory disease. In this subgroup, the response rate was about 10%. The approval of the drug was granted despite negative results from two randomised controlled trials in over 2000 previously untreated patients with NSCLC, which showed no benefit in survival, objective tumour response, or time to progression when gefitinib was added to chemotherapy. WHERE NEXT? Research is needed to identify and validate predictive factors that can be used to select patients with disease likely to respond to EGFR inhibitors, and to elucidate the mechanism of interaction of these agents with standard therapies and other molecularly targeted agents. Appropriately designed clinical trials are required to define the optimum dose, schedule, and sequence for these agents in combination with conventional therapies and other targeted agents.

Purpose Despite high initial remission rates, most lymphomas relapse and require further therapy. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a validated target in mantle cell lymphoma, but has not been extensively evaluated in other lymphomas. Patients and Methods We performed a phase II trial of single-agent temsirolimus 25-mg weekly in patients with relapsed aggressive and indolent lymphomas. The primary objective was overall and complete response rate. Patients were stratified by histology: group A (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma), group B (follicular lymphoma), and group C (chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, and other indolent lymphomas). Results Eighty-nine patients were treated, with outcome strongly dependent on histology. Group A had an overall and complete response rate of 28.1% and 12.5%, respectively, and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 2.6 months and median overall survival (OS) of 7.2 months. Group B had overall and complete response rates of 53.8% and 25.6%, respectively, and median PFS of 12.7 months; median OS has not yet been reached. Group C had a partial response rate of 11% with no complete responders. Toxicity was mainly mild and/or reversible myelosuppression and mucositis; however, four patients developed pneumonitis. Conclusions Single-agent temsirolimus has significant activity in both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, although the durability of responses and PFS are longer for patients with follicular lymphoma. This is the first report of substantial activity of temsirolimus in lymphomas other than mantle cell lymphoma, and supports further evaluation of mTOR as a target in these diseases.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein kinase of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway, has a central role in controlling malignant cellular growth. As a result, mTOR is viewed as an important target for anticancer drug development. Inhibitors of mTOR currently under evaluation in cancer clinical trials are rapamycin (also known as sirolimus, Wyeth) and derivatives temsirolimus (CCI-779, Wyeth), everolimus, (RAD001, Novartis Pharma AG ), and AP23573 (Ariad Pharmaceuticals). Preclinical studies suggest that sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors may correlate with activation of the PI3K pathway and/or with aberrant expression of cell cycle regulatory or anti-apoptotic proteins. Clinical trial results show that mTOR inhibitors are well tolerated and may induce prolonged stable disease and tumor regressions in cancer patients. Future research should evaluate optimal, schedule, patient selection, and combination strategies for this novel class of agents.

In recent years, the increasing awareness that somatic mutations and other genetic aberrations drive human malignancies has led us within reach of personalized cancer medicine (PCM). The implementation of PCM is based on the following premises: genetic aberrations exist in human malignancies; a subset of these aberrations drive oncogenesis and tumor biology; these aberrations are actionable (defined as having the potential to affect management recommendations based on diagnostic, prognostic, and/or predictive implications); and there are highly specific anticancer agents available that effectively modulate these targets. This article highlights the technology underlying cancer genomics and examines the early results of genome sequencing and the challenges met in the discovery of new genetic aberrations. Finally, drawing from experiences gained in a feasibility study of somatic mutation genotyping and targeted exome sequencing led by Princess Margaret Hospital-University Health Network and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the processes, challenges, and issues involved in the translation of cancer genomics to the clinic are discussed.

Intraarterial injection of yttrium 90 microspheres (TheraSpheres) is used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This article presents an analysis of the incidence of liver toxicities (liver-related events) and pretreatment factors associated with liver toxicities after TheraSphere treatment.Eighty-eight TheraSphere-treated patients with low 90-day mortality risk were selected for analysis, with liver toxicities coded with use of standard oncology criteria. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were applied to estimate the incidence of liver toxicities and to evaluate the influence of liver radiation dose and various pretreatment factors on the risk of their occurrence.Sixty-eight liver toxicities occurred in 37 of the 88 patients (42%). Thirty-two patients (36%) experienced 50 liver toxicities after the first treatment and nine of 23 patients (39%) who received a second treatment experienced 18 liver toxicities. Pretreatment total bilirubin and liver radiation dose were found to be associated with the risk of at least one liver toxicity and with the time to first occurrence of a liver toxicity after first treatment. Pretreatment total bilirubin also was associated with liver toxicities after the second treatment. Most of the toxicities resolved; however, those that did not resolve were attributed to tumor progression or advancing cirrhosis.The risk of liver toxicities in patients with unresectable HCC treated with TheraSpheres increases with increasing pretreatment total bilirubin level and liver radiation dose to a maximum of 150 Gy for a single administration. The toxicities attributed to treatment resolved over time, and none of the patients studied had confirmed radiation-induced liver disease. Consequently, doses as high as 150 Gy on a single administration and as high as 268 Gy on repeated administrations were well tolerated.

There are no established treatments for recurrent meningioma when surgical and radiation options are exhausted. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often over-expressed in meningiomas and may promote tumor growth. In open label, single arm phase II studies of the EGFR inhibitors gefitinib (NABTC 00-01) and erlotinib (NABTC 01-03) for recurrent malignant gliomas, we included exploratory subsets of recurrent meningioma patients. We have pooled the data and report the results here. Patients with recurrent histologically confirmed meningiomas with no more than 2 previous chemotherapy regimens were treated with gefitinib 500 mg/day or erlotinib 150 mg/day until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Twenty-five eligible patients were enrolled with median age 57 years (range 29–81) and median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score 90 (range 60–100). Sixteen patients (64%) received gefitinib and 9 (36%) erlotinib. Eight patients (32%) had benign tumors, 9 (36%) atypical, and 8 (32%) malignant. For benign tumors, the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) was 25%, 12-month PFS (PFS12) 13%, 6-month overall survival (OS6) 63%, and 12-month OS (OS12) 50%. For atypical and malignant tumors, PFS6 was 29%, PFS12 18%, OS6 71%, and OS12 65%. The PFS and OS were not significantly different by histology. There were no objective imaging responses, but 8 patients (32%) maintained stable disease. Although treatment was well-tolerated, neither gefitinib nor erlotinib appear to have significant activity against recurrent meningioma. The role of EGFR inhibitors in meningiomas is unclear. Evaluation of multi-targeted inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors in combination with other targeted molecular agents may be warranted.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour, which has a poor prognosis. Surgical resection can be curative but most patients are inoperable and most chemotherapy agents have minimal activity in this disease. Seocalcitol, a vitamin D analogue, induces differentiation and inhibits growth in cancer cell lines and in vivo. The vitamin D receptor is expressed in hepatocytes and more abundantly in HCC cells. In total, 56 patients with inoperable advanced HCC were included in an uncontrolled study of oral Seocalcitol treatment for up to 1 year (with possible extension for responders). The dose was titrated according to serum calcium levels. The treatment effect was evaluated by regular CT scans. Out of 33 patients evaluable for tumour response, two had complete response (CR), 12 stable disease and 19 progressive disease. The CRs appeared after 6 and 24 months of treatment, and lasted for 29 and at least 36 months (patient still in remission when data censored). Seocalcitol was well tolerated; the most frequent toxicity was hypercalcaemia and related symptoms. Most patients tolerated a daily dose of 10 micro g of Seocalcitol. This is the first study showing activity, by reduction in tumour dimensions, of a differentiating agent in patients with an advanced bulky, solid tumour. Seocalcitol may have an effect in the treatment of HCC, especially in early disease when a prolonged treatment can be instituted. The survival benefit with or without tumour response should be determined in controlled studies.

Docetaxel second-line chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has previously been shown to improve survival significantly compared with best supportive care (BSC). This multicenter phase III trial prospectively investigated quality of life (QOL) in NSCLC patients treated with either second-line docetaxel or BSC. Patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC, performance status < or =2, and adequate biochemistry and hematology were eligible if they had received > or =1 platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. Patients were randomized to docetaxel 100 mg/m2 (n=49) or, after protocol amendment, to docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (n=55), or to BSC (n=100), with Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) and/or QLQ-C30 (with LC13 module) assessment every 3 weeks.Longitudinal analysis including all available assessments over time showed statistically significant differences in patient-rated pain scores in favor of docetaxel overall (P=0.005) or docetaxel 100 mg/m2 (P=0.003) compared to BSC. Trends in favor of docetaxel were noted on observer-rated scales for fatigue and pain for all docetaxel patients, and for total LCSS score, appetite and fatigue with docetaxel 100 mg/m2. Changes from baseline to the last available assessment (end point) showed significantly (P<0.05) less deterioration in LCSS pain score in patients with docetaxel (75 and 100 mg/m2 combined) than with BSC. An improved mean pain score with docetaxel 100 mg/m2 was contrasted with a deterioration in mean pain score with BSC (P<0.01). There was also significantly less deterioration in the global QOL today score with docetaxel 100 mg/m2 (P<0.01). Similar trends were recorded with QLQ-C30 assessments.Second-line docetaxel therapy for advanced NSCLC significantly improves survival with a trend towards less deterioration in QOL compared with BSC.

Progression-free survival is an important end point in advanced disease settings. Blinded independent central review (BICR) of progression in randomized clinical trials has been advocated to control bias that might result from errors in progression assessments. However, although BICR lessens some potential biases, it does not remove all biases from evaluations of treatment effectiveness. In fact, as typically conducted, BICRs may introduce bias because of informative censoring, which results from having to censor unconfirmed locally determined progressions. In this article, we discuss the rationale for BICR and different ways of implementing independent review. We discuss the limitations of these approaches and review published trials that report implementing BICR. We demonstrate the existence of informative censoring using data from a randomized phase II trial. We conclude that double-blinded trials with consistent application of measurement criteria are the best means of ensuring unbiased trial results. When such designs are not practical, BICR is not recommended as a general strategy for reducing bias. However, BICR may be useful as an auditing tool to assess the reliability of marginally positive results.

To determine the phase II dose and objective response rate of erlotinib, a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).HNSCC patients with no prior chemotherapy and measurable disease were treated in three escalating-dose cohorts of daily continuous oral (PO) erlotinib and intermittent intravenous (IV) cisplatin given every 21 days. The recommended phase II dose (RPTD) was then evaluated in a two-stage trial with a primary end point of objective response rate.A total of 51 patients were enrolled. The RPTD was identified as erlotinib 100 mg PO daily and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 IV every 21 days. Forty-five patients were treated at the RPTD, of which 44 and 43 were eligible for toxicity and efficacy evaluations, respectively. The intention-to-treat response rate was 21%, with one complete and eight partial responses (95% CI, 10% to 36%), and disease stabilization was achieved in 21 patients (49%; 95% CI, 33% to 65%). Median progression-free survival was 3.3 months (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.8 months) and median overall survival was 7.9 (95% CI, 5.6 to 9.5) months. The combination was well tolerated, with minimal grade 3 or higher toxicity. Subgroup analysis suggested that patients who developed higher grade skin rashes during cycle 1 had better survival outcomes (P = .034).This schedule of erlotinib and cisplatin has a favorable toxicity profile and has antitumor activity in HNSCC comparable to standard combination chemotherapy regimens.

Erlotinib (Tarceva, OSI-774), a potent epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR), was evaluated in a phase II study to assess its activity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. In all, 38 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with erlotinib at a continuous daily oral dose of 150 mg. Radiological evaluation was carried out every 8 weeks and tumour biopsies were performed before treatment and on day 8. Of 31 evaluable patients, 19 (61%) had progressive disease and 12 (39%) had stable disease (s.d.). The median time to progression for those patients having s.d. was 123 days (range 108-329 days). The most common adverse events were rash in 34 patients and diarrhoea in 23 patients. Correlative studies were conducted to investigate the effect of erlotinib on downstream signalling. Tumour tissue correlations were based on usable tissue from eight match paired tumour samples pre- and on therapy, and showed a statistically significant decrease in the median intensity of both pEGFR (P=0.008) and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (P=0.008) a week after commencement of treatment. No other statistically significant change in tumour markers was observed. Erlotinib was well tolerated with the most common toxicities being rash and diarrhoea. More than one-third of evaluable patients had s.d. for a minimum of 8 weeks. Correlative studies showed a reduction in phosphorylated EGFR and ERK in tumour tissue post-treatment.

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) may have synergistic antitumor effects in high-grade glioma patients.We conducted a phase I/II study of the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib (150 mg/day) and the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus. Patients initially received temsirolimus 50 mg weekly, and the dose adjusted based on toxicities. In the phase II component, the primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) among glioblastoma patients.Twenty-two patients enrolled in phase I, 47 in phase II. Twelve phase I patients treated at the maximum tolerated dosage were included in the phase II cohort for analysis. The maximum tolerated dosage was 15 mg temsirolimus weekly with erlotinib 150 mg daily. Dose-limiting toxicities were rash and mucositis. Among 42 evaluable glioblastoma patients, 12 (29%) achieved stable disease, but there were no responses, and PFS6 was 13%. Among 16 anaplastic glioma patients, 1 (6%) achieved complete response, 1 (6%) partial response, and 2 (12.5%) stable disease, with PFS6 of 8%. Tumor levels of both drugs were low, and posttreatment tissue in 3 patients showed no reduction in the mTOR target phosphorylated (phospho-)S6(S235/236) but possible compensatory increase in phospho-Akt(S473). Presence of EGFR variant III, phospho-EGFR, and EGFR amplification did not correlate with survival, but patients with elevated phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase or reduced phosphatase and tensin homolog protein expression had decreased progression-free survival at 4 months.Because of increased toxicity, the maximum tolerated dosage of temsirolimus in combination with erlotinib proved lower than expected. Insufficient tumor drug levels and redundant signaling pathways may partly explain the minimal antitumor activity noted.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is common in endometrial cancers and may have a major role in tumor growth and progression. Erlotinib is an orally active, selective inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity.A multinomial design two-stage phase II study was performed to evaluate single-agent activity of erlotinib in women with advanced endometrial cancer with recurrent or metastatic disease who were chemotherapy naïve and had received up to one line of prior hormonal therapy. Erlotinib was administered at daily dose of 150 mg. Archival tumor tissue was analyzed for EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Mutational status of EGFR was determined in responders.Thirty-two of 34 entered patients are assessable for response. Treatment was well tolerated and severe toxicity infrequent, with the only grade 4 toxicity being an elevation of transaminases (AST). There were four confirmed partial responses (PRs; 12.5%; 95% CI, 3.5% to 29%) lasting 2 to 36 months. Fifteen patients had stable disease (SD), with median duration of 3.7 months (range, 2 to 12 months). EGFR expression was analyzed in thirty patients; 19 were positive, nine were negative, and two were not assessable. Of the 19 patients who were EGFR positive, three had PR (16%), seven SD, and eight progressive disease, and one was not assessable. No mutations were identified in responders. FISH showed no correlation of response with gene amplification.Erlotinib is well tolerated with an overall objective response rate of 12.5%. Molecular analysis did not identify EGFR mutations in responders or correlation of response with gene amplification.

Neurocognitive function, neurological symptoms, functional independence, and health-related quality of life are major concerns for patients with brain metastases. The inclusion of these endpoints in trials of brain metastases and the methods by which these measures are assessed vary substantially. If functional independence or health-related quality of life are planned as key study outcomes, then the reliability and validity of these endpoints can be crucial because methodological issues might affect the interpretation and acceptance of findings. The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group is an independent, international, and collaborative effort to improve the design of clinical trials in patients with brain tumours. In this report, the second in a two-part series, we review clinical trials of brain metastases in relation to measures of clinical benefit and provide a framework for the design and conduct of future trials.

Therapeutic outcomes for patients with brain metastases need to improve. A critical review of trials specifically addressing brain metastases shows key issues that could prevent acceptance of results by regulatory agencies, including enrolment of heterogeneous groups of patients and varying definitions of clinical endpoints. Considerations specific to disease, modality, and treatment are not consistently addressed. Additionally, the schedule of CNS imaging and consequences of detection of new or progressive brain metastases in trials mainly exploring the extra-CNS activity of systemic drugs are highly variable. The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group is an independent, international, collaborative effort to improve the design of trials in patients with brain tumours. In this two-part series, we review the state of clinical trials of brain metastases and suggest a consensus recommendation for the development of criteria for future clinical trials.

This study sought to determine the efficacy and safety profile of lapatinib in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).This phase II multiinstitutional study enrolled patients with recurrent/metastatic SCCHN into two cohorts: those without (arm A) and those with (arm B) before exposure to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. All subjects were treated with lapatinib 1,500 mg daily. Primary endpoints were response rate (arm A) and progression-free survival (PFS; arm B). The biologic effects of lapatinib on tumor growth and survival pathways were assessed in paired tumor biopsies obtained before and after therapy.Forty-five patients were enrolled, 27 in arm A and 18 in arm B. Diarrhea was the most frequent toxicity occurring in 49% of patients. Seven patients experienced related grade 3 toxicity (3 fatigue, 2 hyponatremia, 1 vomiting, and 1 diarrhea). In an intent-to-treat analysis, no complete or partial responses were observed, and stable disease was the best response observed in 41% of arm A (median duration, 50 days, range, 34-159) and 17% of arm B subjects (median, 163 days, range, 135-195). Median PFS was 52 days in both arms. Median OS was 288 (95% CI, 62-374) and 155 (95% CI, 75-242) days for arms A and B, respectively. Correlative analyses revealed an absence of EGFR inhibition in tumor tissue.Lapatinib as a single agent in recurrent/metastatic SCCHN, although well tolerated, appears to be inactive in either EGFR inhibitor naive or refractory subjects.

Mutations in TP53 lead to a defective G1 checkpoint and the dependence on checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) for G2 or S phase arrest in response to DNA damage. In preclinical studies, Chk1 inhibition resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity of several chemotherapeutic agents. The high frequency of TP53 mutations in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC: negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2) make Chk1 an attractive therapeutic target. UCN-01, a non-selective Chk1 inhibitor, combined with irinotecan demonstrated activity in advanced TNBC in our Phase I study. The goal of this trial was to further evaluate this treatment in women with TNBC. Patients with metastatic TNBC previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes received irinotecan (100-125 mg/m(2) IV days 1, 8, 15, 22) and UCN-01 (70 mg/m(2) IV day 2, 35 mg/m(2) day 23 and subsequent doses) every 42-day cycle. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and tumor specimens were collected. Twenty five patients were enrolled. The overall response (complete response (CR) + partial response (PR)) rate was 4 %. The clinical benefit rate (CR + PR + stable disease ≥6 months) was 12 %. Since UCN-01 inhibits PDK1, phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) in PBMC was assessed. Although reduced 24 h post UCN-01, pS6 levels rose to baseline by day 8, indicating loss of UCN-01 bioavailability. Immunostains of γH2AX and pChk1(S296) on serial tumor biopsies from four patients demonstrated an induction of DNA damage and Chk1 activation following irinotecan. However, Chk1 inhibition by UCN-01 was not observed in all tumors. Most tumors were basal-like (69 %), and carried mutations in TP53 (53 %). Median overall survival in patients with TP53 mutant tumors was poor compared to wild type (5.5 vs. 20.3 months, p = 0.004). This regimen had limited activity in TNBC. Inconsistent Chk1 inhibition was likely due to the pharmacokinetics of UCN-01. TP53 mutations were associated with a poor prognosis in metastatic TNBC.

Developments in genomics, including next-generation sequencing technologies, are expected to enable a more personalized approach to clinical care, with improved risk stratification and treatment selection. In oncology, personalized medicine is particularly advanced and increasingly used to identify oncogenic variants in tumor tissue that predict responsiveness to specific drugs. Yet, the translational research needed to validate these technologies will be conducted in patients with late-stage cancer and is expected to produce results of variable clinical significance and incidentally identify genetic risks. To explore the experiential context in which much of personalized cancer care will be developed and evaluated, we conducted a qualitative interview study alongside a pilot feasibility study of targeted DNA sequencing of metastatic tumor biopsies in adult patients with advanced solid malignancies. We recruited 29/73 patients and 14/17 physicians; transcripts from semi-structured interviews were analyzed for thematic patterns using an interpretive descriptive approach. Patient hopes of benefit from research participation were enhanced by the promise of novel and targeted treatment but challenged by non-findings or by limited access to relevant trials. Family obligations informed a willingness to receive genetic information, which was perceived as burdensome given disease stage or as inconsequential given faced challenges. Physicians were optimistic about long-term potential but conservative about immediate benefits and mindful of elevated patient expectations; consent and counseling processes were expected to mitigate challenges from incidental findings. These findings suggest the need for information and decision tools to support physicians in communicating realistic prospects of benefit, and for cautious approaches to the generation of incidental genetic information.

The activity of single-agent targeted molecular therapies in glioblastoma has been limited to date. The North American Brain Tumor Consortium examined the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of combination therapy with sorafenib, a small molecule inhibitor of Raf, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β, and temsirolimus (CCI-779), an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin. This was a phase I/II study. The phase I component used a standard 3 × 3 dose escalation scheme to determine the safety and tolerability of this combination therapy. The phase II component used a 2-stage design; the primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) rate. Thirteen patients enrolled in the phase I component. The maximum tolerated dosage (MTD) for combination therapy was sorafenib 800 mg daily and temsirolimus 25 mg once weekly. At the MTD, grade 3 thrombocytopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity. Eighteen patients were treated in the phase II component. At interim analysis, the study was terminated and did not proceed to the second stage. No patients remained progression free at 6 months. Median PFS was 8 weeks. The toxicity of this combination therapy resulted in a maximum tolerated dose of temsirolimus that was only one-tenth of the single-agent dose. Minimal activity in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme was seen at the MTD of the 2 combined agents.

Patients with active CNS disease are often excluded from clinical trials, and data regarding the CNS efficacy of systemic agents are usually obtained late in the drug development process or not at all. In this guideline from the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) working group, we provide detailed recommendations on when patients with brain metastases from solid tumours should be included or excluded in clinical trials of systemic agents. We also discuss the limitations of retrospective studies in determining the CNS efficacy of systemic drugs. Inclusion of patients with brain metastases early on in the clinical development of a drug or a regimen is needed to generate appropriate CNS efficacy or non-efficacy signals. We consider how to optimally incorporate or exclude such patients in systemic therapy trials depending on the likelihood of CNS activity of the agent by considering three scenarios: drugs that are considered very unlikely to have CNS antitumour activity or efficacy; drugs that are considered very likely to have CNS activity or efficacy; and drugs with minimal baseline information on CNS activity or efficacy. We also address trial design issues unique to patients with brain metastases, including the selection of appropriate CNS endpoints in systemic therapy trials.

Rare cancers, as a collective, account for around a quarter of all cancer diagnoses and deaths. Historically, they have been divided into two groups: cancers defined by their unusual histogenesis (cell of origin or differentiation state)--including chordomas or adult granulosa cell tumours--and histologically defined subtypes of common cancers. Most tumour types in the first group are still clinically and biologically relevant, and have been disproportionately important as sources of insight into cancer biology. By contrast, most of those in the second group have been shown to have neither defining molecular features nor clinical utility. Omics-based analyses have splintered common cancers into a myriad of molecularly, rather than histologically, defined subsets of common cancers, many of which have immediate clinical relevance. Now, almost all rare cancers are either histomolecular entities, which often have pathognomonic mutations, or molecularly defined subsets of more common cancers. The presence of specific genetic variants provides rationale for the testing of targeted drugs in rare cancers. However, in addition to molecular alterations, it is crucial to consider the contributions of both mutation and cell context in the development, biology, and behaviour of these cancers. Patients with rare cancers are disadvantaged because of the challenge of leading clinical trials in this setting due to poor accrual. However, the number of patients with rare cancers will only increase as more molecular subsets of common cancers are identified, necessitating a shift in the focus of clinical trials and research into these cancer types, which, by epidemiological definitions, will become rare tumours.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has shown promise in capturing primary resistance to immunotherapy. BR.36 is a multi-center, randomized, ctDNA-directed, phase 2 trial of molecular response-adaptive immuno-chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer. In the first of two independent stages, 50 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer received pembrolizumab as standard of care. The primary objectives of stage 1 were to ascertain ctDNA response and determine optimal timing and concordance with radiologic Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response. Secondary endpoints included the evaluation of time to ctDNA response and correlation with progression-free and overall survival. Maximal mutant allele fraction clearance at the third cycle of pembrolizumab signified molecular response (mR). The trial met its primary endpoint, with a sensitivity of ctDNA response for RECIST response of 82% (90% confidence interval (CI): 52-97%) and a specificity of 75% (90% CI: 56.5-88.5%). Median time to ctDNA response was 2.1 months (90% CI: 1.5-2.6), and patients with mR attained longer progression-free survival (5.03 months versus 2.6 months) and overall survival (not reached versus 7.23 months). These findings are incorporated into the ctDNA-driven interventional molecular response-adaptive second stage of the BR.36 trial in which patients at risk of progression are randomized to treatment intensification or continuation of therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04093167 .

Studies indicate that men with prostate cancer (MPC) adopt passive roles in cancer management; however, increasing public awareness of prostate cancer and advocacy by MPC and their allies suggest otherwise. This study looks at the information that is important to MPC; their preferred participation in decision making; and the influence of sociodemographic, disease, and psychological factors on information needs and decision preferences.Consecutive men diagnosed with prostate cancer and attending two tertiary care cancer clinics completed questionnaires on information needs and decision preferences. Questions included demographic information, health and disease status, psychosocial functioning, optimism, and decisional preferences and information preferences for content, type, focus, format, and amount.Questionnaires were completed by 101 MPC. Their mean age was 70 years and most were married and well-educated. Over 70% wanted detailed information at all illness stages focusing on their disease, treatment, survival, self-care, and empowerment. Over 60% of MPC wanted shared decision making with their physician. Psychological variables were found to influence information needs but not involvement in decision making.These results represent a challenge to health-care providers for accomodating the informational needs and decision preferences of individual MPC.

Studies show that women with cancer want more information about and participation in all aspects of their healthcare including decision-making. However, most studies have been done on women with breast cancer, which often runs a lengthy course and has strong patient-advocacy groups. Little is known about the preferences of women with ovarian cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, which often has a more rapidly fatal course.This study of women with ovarian cancer investigates what information is most vital for women with ovarian cancer, their preferred role in decision-making, and the influence of sociodemographic, disease-related, and psychological factors.Questionnaires were completed by 105 women with ovarian cancer in two Canadian university hospital oncology clinics. Their mean age was 55.8 +/- 14. 9 years. Most were married, well-educated, and considered their health status to be excellent or good, even though over 60% had metastatic disease. Over 80% of these women wanted detailed information about ovarian cancer during the diagnosis, treatment, and posttreatment stages of their disease. In particular, they wanted information pertaining to the disease, treatment, and self-care issues. Approximately 60% of women preferred to share decision-making with their doctors at every stage of the illness. Psychological variables and disease severity were found to influence information needs and decisional preferences. In general, the more psychologically distressed the women, the more information they wanted about coping strategies and the more serious the illness, the more shared decision-making was desired.These results present a challenge to health care providers in more adequately meeting the individual information needs of women with ovarian cancer and involving them to the extent that they wish in the decision-making process.

Pemetrexed disodium (Alimta [Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN], LY231514, multitargeted antifolate) is a new multitargeted antifolate agent that inhibits multiple enzymes in the folate pathway. Phase II trials showed single-agent response rates of 16% and 23% in untreated patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study was undertaken to determine the response to pemetrexed disodium given in combination with cisplatin.Previously untreated patients were eligible if they had Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, performance status 0, 1, or 2, adequate hematology and biochemistry and bidimensionally measurable lesions. Patients with brain metastases or neuropathy higher than Grade 2 were excluded. Pemetrexed disodium 500 mg/m(2) was given over 10 minutes, and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) with hydration and mannitol diuresis was administered on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Dexamethasone 4 mg was taken orally once every 12 hours starting 24 hours before treatment and continuing for 6 doses after treatment. Four patients had detailed pemetrexed disodium pharmacokinetic analysis performed.Between May 1998 and June 1999, 31 patients were treated on the study. There were 20 males and 11 females; median age was 60 years (range, 35-75 years); there were 5 Stage IIIB, 26 Stage IV, 26 performance status 0 or 1, and 5 performance status 2. In 29 patients evaluable for response, there were 13 partial responses (PRs; overall response rate [ORR], 95%; confidence interval [CI]: 26-64%) of median duration 6.1 months (1.6-7.8 months). Three of four evaluable patients with performance status 2 achieved PR, and 11 of 24 evaluable Stage IV patients responded (ORR, 45.8% in Stage IV). Eighteen patients died. The median survival rate was 8.9 months (range, 1-15+ months). A total of 160 courses were delivered (median, 6 for both cisplatin and pemetrexed disodium). Grade 3 and 4 anemia was observed in 5 and 1 patients, respectively, and Grade 3 and 4 granulocytopenia in 7 and 4 patients, respectively. Grade 3 nausea and emesis occurred in only 2 patients, Grade 3/4 diarrhea in 3 patients, and 2 patients had Grade 3 motor neuropathy. Nine patients had Grade 2 infections, and there was one case of febrile neutropenia. Pharmacokinetic results showed C(max), clearance and V(ss) values to be similar to data from single-agent pemetrexed disodium given in the same dose.The combination of pemetrexed disodium and cisplatin is active against advanced NSCLC and is a well-tolerated convenient outpatient regimen. It deserves further study to compare it with other standard regimens for NSCLC.

Treatment for nonresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is palliative. The relatively greater arteriolar density of hepatic tumors compared with normal liver suggests that intrahepatic arterial administration of 90Y-microspheres can be selectively deposited in tumor nodules and results in significantly greater radiation exposure to the tumor than external irradiation. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion (frequency) and duration of response, survival, and toxicity after intrahepatic arterial injection of 90Y-microspheres in patients with HCC.Patients with documented HCC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-3, adequate bone marrow, and hepatic and pulmonary function were eligible for study. Patients who had significant shunting of blood to the lungs or gastrointestinal (GI) tract or who could not undergo cannulation of the hepatic artery were excluded. Patients received a planned dose of 100 Gy through a catheter placed into the hepatic artery.Twenty-two patients were treated with 90Y-microspheres; 20 of the treated patients (median age, 62.5 y) were evaluated for treatment efficacy. Nine patients were Okuda stage I, and 11 were Okuda stage II. The median dose delivered was 104 Gy (range, 46-145 Gy). All 22 treated patients experienced at least 1 adverse event. Of the 31 (15%) serious adverse events, the most common were elevations in liver enzymes and bilirubin and upper GI ulceration. The response rate was 20%. The median duration of response was 127 wk; the median survival was 54 wk. Multivariable analysis suggested that a dose >104 Gy (P = 0.06), tumor-to-liver activity uptake ratio >2 (P = 0.06), and Okuda stage I (P = 0.07) were associated with longer survival.Significantly higher doses of radiation can be delivered to a HCC tumor by intrahepatic arterial administration of 90Y-microspheres than by external beam radiation. This treatment appears to be beneficial in nonresectable HCC with acceptable toxicity.

The camptothecins are a new class of chemotherapeutic agents which have a novel mechanism of action targeting the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase I. Knowledge of the structure-activity relationships of the parent compound camptothecin has led to the development of effective soluble analogues with manageable toxicities. Broad anti-tumour activity shown in preclinical studies has been confirmed in phase I/II studies for irinotecan and topotecan. Two other derivatives, 9-aminocamptothecin and GI 147211C, are undergoing phase I and early phase II evaluation. Although camptothecin is a plant extract, it and most of its derivatives are not affected by the classic P-gpMDR1 mechanism of resistance which may allow the development of novel combination chemotherapeutic regimens. Important areas of future endeavour will include the development of rational combination regimens and the pursuit of randomised trials. Based on single agent data, colorectal cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer should be the focus for future irinotecan studies. Small-cell lung cancer and ovarian carcinoma are logical tumour types to pursue with topotecan. Both 9-aminocamptothecin and GI 147211C are too early in their clinical evaluation to make recommendations about their future roles. Finally, the unfolding story of camptothecin analogue development will give important insights into the predictive value of preclinical observations on relative efficacy, schedule dependency, combination strategies and resistance mechanisms which have helped determine the strategies for clinical evaluation of these agents.

We conducted a phase I and pharmacokinetic study of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib as a single agent and in combination with temozolomide in children with refractory solid tumors.Erlotinib was administered orally once daily to cohorts of three to six children for a single 28-day course. Patients then received the combination of daily erlotinib and temozolomide daily for 5 days for all subsequent 28-day courses. An oral erlotinib solution was administered during the dose-finding phase and a tablet formulation was subsequently studied at the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). Pharmacokinetic studies and ERBB-receptor expression and signaling studies were performed.Forty-six patients, median age 11.5 years, received erlotinib at doses of 35, 50, 65, 85, or 110 mg/m(2)/d. At 110 mg/m(2)/d, two of four patients had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) consisting of rash and hyperbilirubinemia, whereas one of six patients developed dose-limiting rash at 85 mg/m(2)/d. The most frequent non-DLTs included diarrhea, rash, and hyperbilirubinemia. The combination of erlotinib and temozolomide was well tolerated. The median apparent erlotinib clearance was 3.1 L/h/m(2) and the median terminal half-life was 8.7 hours. One patient with a neurocytoma had stable disease for 19 months, two patients with neuroblastoma remained on study for 23 and 24 months, and one patient with myoepithelioma had a mixed response.The recommended phase II dose of erlotinib in recurrent pediatric solid tumors is 85 mg/m(2)/d, either alone or in combination with temozolomide.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of erlotinib plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Experimental Design: Thirty-eight patients with MBC were enrolled and treated at two institutions with erlotinib, a small molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (150 mg p.o. daily) plus bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody (15 mg/kg i.v. every 3 weeks). Patients had one to two prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease. The primary end point was response rate by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria using a Simon 2-stage design. Secondary end points included toxicity, time to progression, response duration, and stabilization of disease of ≥26 weeks. Correlative studies were done on tumor tissue, including EGFR expression and mutation analysis. Results: One patient achieved a partial response for 52+ months. Fifteen patients had stable disease at first evaluation at 9 weeks; 4 of these patients had stable disease beyond 26 weeks. Median time to progression was 11 weeks (95% confidence interval, 8-18 weeks). Diarrhea of any grade was observed in 84% of patients (grade 3 in 3%); 76% experienced grade 1 or 2 skin rash, and 18% developed hypertension (grade 3 in 11%). The level of EGFR expression was not predictive of response to therapy. Conclusions: The combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab was well-tolerated but had limited activity in unselected patients with previously treated MBC. Biomarkers are needed to identify those MBC patients likely to respond to anti-EGFR/HER1 plus anti-VEGF therapy.

The success or failure of a clinical trial, of any phase, depends critically on the choice of an appropriate primary end-point. In the setting of phases II and III cancer clinical trials, imaging end-points have historically, and continue presently to play a major role in determining therapeutic efficacy. The primary goal of this paper is to discuss the validation of imaging-based markers as end-points for phase II clinical trials of cancer therapy. Specifically, we outline the issues that must be considered, and the criteria that would need to be satisfied, for an imaging end-point to supplement or potentially replace RECIST- defined tumour status as a phase II clinical trial end-point. The key criteria proposed to judge the utility of a new end-point primarily relate to its ability to accurately and reproducibly predict the eventual phase III end-point for treatment effect, which is usually assessed by a difference between two arms on progression free or overall survival, both at the patient and more importantly at the trial level. As will be demonstrated, the level of evidence required to formally and fully validate a new imaging marker as an appropriate end-point for phase II trials is substantial. In many cases, this level of evidence will only become available by conducting a series of coordinated prospectively designed multicentre clinical trials culminating in a formal meta-analysis. We also include a discussion of situations where flexibility may be required, relative to the ideal rigorous evaluation, to accommodate inevitable real-world feasibility constraints.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise worldwide. HCC responds poorly to chemotherapy. Lapatinib is an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor and HER2/NEU both implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis. This trial was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of lapatinib in HCC.A Fleming phase II design with a single stage of 25 patients with a 90% power to exclude a true response rate of <10% and detect a true response rate of > or =30% was used. The dose of lapatinib was 1,500 mg/day administered orally in 28-day cycles. Tumor and blood specimens were analyzed for expression of HER2/NEU/CEP17 and status of downstream signal pathway proteins.Twenty-six patients with HCC enrolled on this study. Nineteen percent had one prior therapy. Most common toxicities were diarrhea (73%), nausea (54%), and rash (42%). No objective responses were observed. Ten (40%) patients had stable disease as their best response including six (23%) with stable disease lasting >120 days. Median progression-free survival was 1.9 months and median overall survival was 12.6 months. Patients who developed a rash had a borderline statistically significant longer survival. Tissue and blood specimens were available on >90% of patients. No somatic mutations in EGFR (exons 18-21) were found. In contrast to our previous findings, we did not find evidence of HER2/NEU somatic mutations. PTEN, P-AKT, and P70S6K expression did not correlate with survival.Lapatinib is well-tolerated but seems to benefit only a subgroup of patients for whom predictive molecular or clinical characteristics are not yet fully defined.

PURPOSE To present the findings of a risk-stratification survival analysis with use of data collected on a heterogeneous group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with TheraSphere. MATERIALS AND METHODS Baseline, treatment, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed from 121 TheraSphere-treated patients. Survival analyses were performed to identify those variables most strongly associated with 3-month mortality. The presence of any of the identified risk variables resulted in the assignment of a patient to the high-risk category. RESULTS Five liver reserve and two non–liver reserve variables were identified and used to stratify patients into lowor high-risk groups. Sixteen of the 33 patients assigned to the high-risk group (49%) did not survive the first 3 months after treatment, compared with six of the 88 patients assigned to the low-risk group (7%; Fisher exact test, P < .0001). Median survival for the low- and high-risk groups were 466 days and 108 days, respectively (hazard ratio, 6.0; P < .0001). Eleven of 12 patients who experienced a treatment-related major complication ending in death were included in the high-risk group. No single variable explained the major complication relationship to treatment. CONCLUSION Patients with HCC who are being considered for treatment with TheraSpheres should be evaluated for the presence of the risk variables described herein. The absence of these variables is predictive of improved survival (median of 466 days) compared with patients at high risk (median of 108 days). To present the findings of a risk-stratification survival analysis with use of data collected on a heterogeneous group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with TheraSphere. Baseline, treatment, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed from 121 TheraSphere-treated patients. Survival analyses were performed to identify those variables most strongly associated with 3-month mortality. The presence of any of the identified risk variables resulted in the assignment of a patient to the high-risk category. Five liver reserve and two non–liver reserve variables were identified and used to stratify patients into lowor high-risk groups. Sixteen of the 33 patients assigned to the high-risk group (49%) did not survive the first 3 months after treatment, compared with six of the 88 patients assigned to the low-risk group (7%; Fisher exact test, P < .0001). Median survival for the low- and high-risk groups were 466 days and 108 days, respectively (hazard ratio, 6.0; P < .0001). Eleven of 12 patients who experienced a treatment-related major complication ending in death were included in the high-risk group. No single variable explained the major complication relationship to treatment. Patients with HCC who are being considered for treatment with TheraSpheres should be evaluated for the presence of the risk variables described herein. The absence of these variables is predictive of improved survival (median of 466 days) compared with patients at high risk (median of 108 days).

Novel, effective therapies are warranted in the management of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Perifosine is an oral alkylphospholipid that inhibits AKT phosphorylation and has shown preclinical antitumor activity in head and neck cancer cell lines and xenografts.We conducted a phase II trial of perifosine in patients with incurable, recurrent or metastatic SCCHN. Previous therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease was limited to no more than one prior chemotherapy and one prior targeted/biologic agent regimen. Patients had to have measurable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, and adequate laboratory parameters. Perifosine was given as a loading dose of 150 mg every 6 hours x 6 doses orally in the first two days, with antiemetic prophylaxis, followed by 100 mg/day orally without interruption. Administration via gastrostomy tube was allowed. Tumor response was assessed every two cycles (eight weeks). Biomarkers in pathways potentially affected by perifosine, including AKT, P-AKT, P38, p53 and p21 were measured on tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry by manual and automated methods.Nineteen patients were enrolled. No objective responses were observed. One patient had stable disease as best response and 18 patients progressed at first evaluation. The median overall survival time was 5.5 months and the median progression-free survival time was 1.7 months. The most frequent toxicities were gastrointestinal (constipation, nausea, vomiting) and fatigue. One patient developed grade 4 anorexia. Although the sample size was small, a significant correlation was detected between high expression of P38 and AKT in baseline tumor tissue and better survival.Perifosine in the doses and schedule used lacks single-agent activity in SCCHN. Our data do not justify further investigation of perifosine as a single agent in SCCHN.

Progression-free survival (PFS) is an increasingly important end-point in cancer drug development. However, several concerns exist regarding the use of PFS as a basis to compare treatments. Unlike survival, the exact time of progression is unknown, so progression times might be over-estimated (or under-estimated) and, consequently, bias may be introduced when comparing treatments. In addition, the assessment of progression is subject to measurement variability which may introduce error or bias. Ideally trials with PFS as the primary end-point should be randomised and, when feasible, double-blinded. All patients eligible for study should be evaluable for the primary end-point and thus, in general, have measurable disease at baseline. Appropriate definitions should be provided in the protocol and data collected on the case-report forms, if patients with only non-measurable disease are eligible and/or clinical, or symptomatic progression are to be considered progression events for analysis. Protocol defined assessments of disease burden should be obtained at intervals that are symmetrical between arms. Independent review of imaging may be of value in randomised phase II trials and phase III trials as an auditing tool to detect possible bias.

Background: 7-Hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) inhibits serine–threonine kinases including the Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC), CDKs 2, 4, 6, Chk-1 and PDK1. UCN-01 mediates distinct effects in vitro/in vivo: cell cycle arrest in G1, abrogation of G2 arrest by inhibiting chk1, induction of apoptosis and potentiation of cytotoxicity of S-phase-active chemotherapeutics including the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor topotecan (T). This phase I study was designed to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase 2 dose (RPTD), toxicity profile, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of T and UCN-01 in patients with refractory solid tumors.Design: Both agents were administered every 21 days intravenously through central venous access in escalating doses to eligible patients. On day 1, following antiemetic prophylaxis with dexamethasone and a serotonin type 3(A) receptor (5HT3) inhibitor, UCN-01 was infused over 3 h, followed by T infused over 30 min. On days 2–5, patients received T only. UCN-01 doses were reduced by 50% in cycles 2 and beyond because of its prolonged half-life.Results: Thirty-three patients were entered in three cohorts: Dose Level (DL) 1 (UCN-01 70 mg/m2, T 0.75 mg/m2), three patients; DL 2 (UCN-01 70 mg/m2, T 1.0 mg/m2), 24 patients; DL 3 (UCN-01 90 mg/m2, T 1.0 mg/m2), six patients. All but three patients were PS 0 or 1, median age was 54 years (range, 29–72), 91% were female. Primary tumor types: ovary/peritoneal (23 patients), colon (three patients), salivary gland (two patients), others (five patients). All patients were eligible for adverse event (AE) analysis and 22 patients were eligible for survival and tumor response analysis. Two of six patients had dose limiting toxicity (DLT) at DL 3 (grade 3 N/V; grade 4 neutropenia with infection). One DLT was seen in one patient at DL 2, consisting of grade 4 leukopenia. This cohort was expanded and no further DLTs were observed. Most common drug-related AEs were mild (grade 1–2). Non-hematological grade 3–4 AEs consisted of transient hyperglycemia (4), infection (3), coagulation, fatigue, hypotension, nausea (2), hypomagnesemia, vomiting, headache (1). Hematologic toxicities occurred in 100% of patients. Grade 3–4 hematologic abnormalities included neutropenia (16, including three with infection), leukopenia (11), lymphopenia (7), thrombocytopenia (5). Best response for 22 evaluable patients was PD (8), SD for at least six cycles (12), PR (1: carcinoma of ovary, dose level 2) and one not assessable. Pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed the prolonged half-life of UCN-01 of ∼15 days.Conclusions: DLT was observed at DL 3 and RPTD was determined to be DL 2. To date, this combination has been relatively well tolerated with some preliminary evidence of efficacy. A phase II study of this combination in patients with ovarian cancer is underway.

Independent central review (ICR) is advocated by regulatory authorities as a means of independent verification of clinical trial end-points dependent on medical imaging, when the data from the trials may be submitted for licensing applications [Food and Drug Administration. United States food and drug administration guidance for industry: clinical trial endpoints for the approval of cancer drugs and biologics. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007; Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) guideline on the evaluation of anticancer medicinal products in man. London, UK: European Medicines Agency; 2006; United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Approval package for application number NDA 21-492 (oxaliplatin). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2002; United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Approval package for application number NDA 21-923 (sorafenib tosylate). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2005; United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Approval package for application number NDA 22-065 (ixabepilone). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007; United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Approval package for application number NDA 22-059 (lapatinib ditosylate). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007; United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Approval package for BLA numbers 97-0260 and BLA Number 97-0244 (rituximab). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1997; United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA clinical review of BLA 98-0369 (Herceptin((R)) trastuzumab (rhuMAb HER2)). FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; 1998; United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA Briefing Document Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee meeting NDA 21801 (satraplatin). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007; Thomas ES, Gomez HL, Li RK, et al. Ixabepilone plus capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer progressing after anthracycline and taxane treatment. JCO 2007(November):5210-7]. In addition, clinical trial sponsors have used ICR in Phase I-II studies to assist in critical pathway decisions including in-licensing of compounds [Cannistra SA, Matulonis UA, Penson RT, et al. Phase II study of bevacizumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer or peritoneal serous cancer. JCO 2007(November):5180-6; Perez EA, Lerzo G, Pivot X, et al. Efficacy and safety of ixabepilone (BMS-247550) in a phase II study of patients with advanced breast cancer resistant to an anthracycline, a taxane, and capecitabine. JCO 2007(August):3407-14; Vermorken JB, Trigo J, Hitt R, et al. Open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cetuximab as a single agent in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who failed to respond to platinum-based therapy. JCO 2007(June):2171-7; Ghassan KA, Schwartz L, Ricci S, et al. Phase II study of sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. JCO 2006(September):4293-300; Boué F, Gabarre J, GaBarre J, et al. Phase II trial of CHOP plus rituximab in patients with HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. JCO 2006(September):4123-8; Chen HX, Mooney M, Boron M, et al. Phase II multicenter trial of bevacizumab plus fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced refractory colorectal cancer: an NCI Treatment Referral Center Trial TRC-0301. JCO 2006(July):3354-60; Ratain MJ, Eisen T, Stadler WM, et al. Phase II placebo-controlled randomized discontinuation trial of sorafenib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. JCO 2006(June):2502-12; Jaffer AA, Lee FC, Singh DA, et al. Multicenter phase II trial of S-1 plus cisplatin in patients with untreated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. JCO 2006(February):663-7; Bouché O, Raoul JL, Bonnetain F, et al. Randomized multicenter phase II trial of a biweekly regimen of fluorouracil and leucovorin (LV5FU2), LV5FU2 plus cisplatin, or LV5FU2 plus irinotecan in patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric cancer: a Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive Group Study-FFCD 9803. JCO 2004(November):4319-28]. This article will focus on the definition and purpose of ICR and the issues and lessons learned in the ICR setting primarily in Phase II and III oncology studies. This will include a discussion on discordance between local and central interpretations, consequences of ICR, reader discordance during the ICR, operational considerations and the need for specific imaging requirements as part of the study protocol.

A workshop sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the US Food and Drug Administration addressed past lessons learned and ongoing challenges faced in biomarker development and drug and biomarker codevelopment. Participants agreed that critical decision points in the product life cycle depend on the level of understanding of the biology of the target and its interaction with the drug, the preanalytical and analytical factors affecting biomarker assay performance, and the clinical disease process. The more known about the biology and the greater the strength of association between an analytical signal and clinical result, the more efficient and less risky the development process will be. Rapid entry into clinical practice will only be achieved by using a rigorous scientific approach, including careful specimen collection and standardized and quality-controlled data collection. Early interaction with appropriate regulatory bodies will ensure studies are appropriately designed and biomarker test performance is well characterized.

Sorafenib and erlotinib are potent, orally administered receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities. Given their inhibitory target profile and efficacy as single agents, the combination of these drugs is of considerable interest in solid malignancies. This study aimed to determine the recommended phase II dose of this targeted combination, their toxicity profile, pharmacokinetic interaction, and preliminary clinical activities.Sorafenib was administered alone for a 1-week run-in period, and then both drugs were given together continuously, with every 28 days considered as a cycle. Three dose levels were assessed.Seventeen patients with advanced solid tumors received 75 cycles of treatment. The most frequent adverse events of all grades were constitutional and gastrointestinal in nature followed by electrolytes and dermatologic toxicities. Fatigue was the most common adverse event (17 patients; 100%) followed by diarrhea (15 patients; 88%), hypophosphatemia (13 patients; 76%), and acneiform rash (12 patients; 71%). These adverse events were predominantly mild to moderate. The recommended phase II dose of this combination was determined as 400 mg twice daily sorafenib and 150 mg daily erlotinib. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed no significant effect of erlotinib on the pharmacokinetic profile of sorafenib. Among 15 evaluable patients, 3 (20%) achieved a confirmed partial response and 9 (60%) had stable disease as best response.Sorafenib and erlotinib are well tolerated and seem to have no pharmacokinetic interactions when administered in combination at their full single-agent recommended doses. This well tolerated combination resulted in promising activity that needs further validation in phase II studies.

PURPOSE Pharmacodynamic tissue studies were conducted on a phase I/II trial of erlotinib and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), downstream signaling components, and markers of angiogenesis and apoptosis were evaluated to determine the relationship between correlative end points and clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS Pretreatment and during-treatment tumor and skin biopsies, and archival tumor specimens were evaluated for EGFR, phosphorylated (p) -EGFR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-ERK, Akt, p-Akt, Ki67, p27, p-nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB), p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and EGFR gene copy number. Results On 37 archival samples, response to therapy was evident in two of four (50%) patients with high EGFR gene copy number tumors and in four of 27 (15%) patients with low gene copy number tumors. On nine paired tumor biopsies, elevated pretreatment levels of p27 and p-STAT3 predicted for prolonged time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS; P < or = .03). With treatment, a decrease in p-EGFR, p-NFkappaB, and p27 correlated with increased TTP, OS, or both TTP and OS, respectively (P < or = .04). Multidimensional scaling (MDS) models revealed clustering profiles of tumor markers by immunofluorescence could predict response. On 32 paired skin biopsies, suppression of p-EGFR with therapy correlated with increased OS (P = .045). CONCLUSION High EGFR gene copy in tumor specimens may predict which patients have an increased likelihood of response to erlotinib, and decreased p-EGFR level in skin biopsies during therapy may represent a potential surrogate marker for improved clinical outcome. MDS represents a novel way to evaluate the relationships between molecular markers and clinical outcome. Additional biomarker studies with larger sample sizes are required to elucidate HNSCC patients who may benefit from this targeted therapy.

Abstract The successes of targeted drugs with companion predictive biomarkers and the technological advances in gene sequencing have generated enthusiasm for evaluating personalized cancer medicine strategies using genomic profiling. We assessed the feasibility of incorporating real‐time analysis of somatic mutations within exons of 19 genes into patient management. Blood, tumor biopsy and archived tumor samples were collected from 50 patients recruited from four cancer centers. Samples were analyzed using three technologies: targeted exon sequencing using Pacific Biosciences PacBio RS, multiplex somatic mutation genotyping using Sequenom MassARRAY and Sanger sequencing. An expert panel reviewed results prior to reporting to clinicians. A clinical laboratory verified actionable mutations. Fifty patients were recruited. Nineteen actionable mutations were identified in 16 (32%) patients. Across technologies, results were in agreement in 100% of biopsy specimens and 95% of archival specimens. Profiling results from paired archival/biopsy specimens were concordant in 30/34 (88%) patients. We demonstrated that the use of next generation sequencing for real‐time genomic profiling in advanced cancer patients is feasible. Additionally, actionable mutations identified in this study were relatively stable between archival and biopsy samples, implying that cancer mutations that are good predictors of drug response may remain constant across clinical stages.

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to externally validate an established association between baseline health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) scores and survival and to assess the added prognostic value of HRQOL with respect to demographic and clinical indicators. METHODS Pooled data were analyzed from 17 randomized controlled trials opened by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group between 1991 and 2004; they included survival and baseline HRQOL data from 3606 patients with 8 different cancer sites. The models included sex, age (≤60 vs &gt;60 years), World Health Organization performance status (0 or 1 vs 2‐4), distant metastases (no vs yes), and 15 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire (QLQ‐C30) scales. Analyses were conducted with multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and were stratified by cancer site. Harrell's discrimination C‐index was used to calculate the predictive accuracy of the model when HRQOL parameters were added to clinical and demographic variables. The added value of adding HRQOL scales to clinical and demographic variables was illustrated with Kaplan‐Meier curves. RESULTS In the stratified, multivariate model, HRQOL parameters—global health status (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95‐1.00; P &lt; . 0001), dyspnea (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02‐1.06; P &lt; . 0002), and appetite loss (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.08; P &lt; . 0001)—were independent prognostic factors in addition to the demographic and clinical variables (all P values &lt; .05). Adding these HRQOL variables to the clinical variables resulted in an added relative prognostic value for survival of 5%. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm previous findings showing that baseline HRQOL scores on the EORTC QLQ‐C30 provide prognostic information in addition to information from clinical measures. However, the impact of specific domains may differ across studies. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society .

PURPOSE The mode of action of targeted cancer agents (TCAs) differs from classic chemotherapy, which leads to concerns about the role of RECIST in evaluating tumor response in trials with TCAs. We investigated the performance of RECIST using a pooled database from 50 clinical trials with at least one TCA. METHODS We examined the impact of the number of target lesions (TLs) on within-patient variability of tumor response. The prognostic effect of TL response (at 12 weeks or on study on the basis of a maximum five TLs) on survival was studied through landmark and time-dependent Cox models adjusted for baseline tumor load, occurrence of new lesions, or unequivocal progression of nontarget disease. RESULTS Data were obtained from 23,259 patients with cancer (36% lung, 28% colorectal, 11% breast, and 25% other); 15,620 received TCAs, predominantly transduction or angiogenesis inhibitors, as a single agent (37%), combined with other TCAs (7%), or as chemotherapy (56%); 28% received chemotherapy only; and 5% received best supportive care or placebo. A total of 17,222 patients contributed to the analyses. Within-patient variability decreased with increasing number of TLs, similarly for TCAs (with/without chemotherapy) and chemotherapy only. Mixed responses occurred proportionally in all treatment classes. Landmark analyses showed an ordinal relationship between percentage change from baseline to 12 weeks and overall survival, and demonstrated a clear distinction between tumor shrinkage and progressive disease according to RECIST. Time-dependent analysis showed no marked improvement in the ability to predict survival on the basis of TL tumor growth compared with nontarget progression or new lesion occurrence, regardless of treatment. Similar results were seen for major tumor types and different classes of TCAs. CONCLUSION This work reinforces that RECIST version 1.1 perform well for response assessment of TCAs.

Background A significant barrier to conducting clinical trials is their high cost, which is driven primarily by the time and resources required to activate trials and reach accrual targets. The high cost of running trials has a substantial impact on their long-term feasibility and the type of clinical research undertaken. Methods A scoping review of the empirical literature on the costs associated with conducting clinical trials was undertaken for the years 2001–2015. Five reference databases were consulted to elicit how trials costs are presented in the literature. A review instrument was developed to extract the content of in-scope papers. Findings were characterized by date and place of publication, clinical disease area, and network/cooperative group designation, when specified. Costs were captured and grouped by patient accrual and management, infrastructure, and the opportunity costs associated with industry funding for trials research. Cost impacts on translational research and health systems were also captured, as were recommendations to reduce trial expenditures. Since articles often cited multiple costs, multiple cost coding was used during data extraction to capture the range and frequency of costs. Results A total of 288 empirical articles were included. The distribution of reported costs was: patient management and accrual costs (132 articles), infrastructure costs (118 articles) and the opportunity costs of industry sponsorship (72 articles). 221 articles reported on the impact of undertaking costly trials on translational research and health systems; of these, the most frequently reported consequences were to research integrity (52% of articles), research capacity (36% of articles) and running low-value trials (34% of articles). 254 articles provided recommendations to reduce trial costs; of these, the most frequently reported recommendations related to improvements in: operational efficiencies (33% of articles); patient accrual (24% of articles); funding for trials and transparency in trials reporting (18% of articles, each). Conclusion Key findings from the review are: 1) delayed trial activation has costs to budgets and research; 2) poor accrual leads to low-value trials and wasted resources; 3) the pharmaceutical industry can be a pragmatic, if problematic, partner in clinical research; 4) organizational know-how and successful research collaboration are benefits of network/cooperative groups; and 5) there are spillover benefits of clinical trials to healthcare systems, including better health outcomes, enhanced research capacity, and drug cost avoidance. There is a need for more economic evaluations of the benefits of clinical research, such as health system use (or avoidance) and health outcomes in cities and health authorities with institutions that conduct clinical research, to demonstrate the affordability of clinical trials, despite their high cost.

First-line therapy for patients with metastatic NSCLC includes checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy, dual checkpoint inhibition, or combination with chemotherapy. We compared outcomes with combination chemoimmunotherapy versus dual checkpoint inhibition as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic NSCLC.This open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 44 sites in Canada and Australia. Patients with treatment-naive, metastatic NSCLC without sensitizing EGFR or ALK alterations were randomized (1:1) to receive treatment with durvalumab plus tremelimumab with or without platinum-doublet chemotherapy. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were progression-free survival, overall response rate, and safety.A total of 301 patients were randomized. Median OS was 16.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.6-19.1) with chemotherapy plus immunotherapy and 14.1 months (95% CI: 10.6-18.3) with immunotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.88, 90% CI: 0.67-1.16, p = 0.46). Median progression-free survival with chemotherapy plus immunotherapy was 7.7 months (95% CI: 5.5-8.5) and 3.2 months (95% CI: 2.7-5.1) with immunotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88). The overall response rate with chemoimmunotherapy was 42.4% and 29.3% with immunotherapy (adjusted OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.04-2.76). The percentage of patients with grade 3 or higher adverse events was 82% in the chemotherapy plus immunotherapy group and 70% in the immunotherapy group. Exploratory analyses of programmed death-ligand 1 expression and blood-based tumor mutation burden revealed no differential treatment effect on OS.The addition of chemotherapy to durvalumab plus tremelimumab in the first-line treatment of stage IV NSCLC did not improve survival compared with durvalumab plus tremelimumab alone. Further study is warranted to identify patients that benefit from initial immunotherapy alone versus combination chemotherapy plus immunotherapy as first-line treatment.

Epidermal growth factor receptor is expressed in pediatric malignant solid tumors. We conducted a phase I trial of gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in children with refractory solid tumors.Gefitinib (150, 300, 400, or 500 mg/m2) was administered orally to cohorts of three to six patients once daily continuously until disease progression or significant toxicity. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed during course one (day 1 through 28).Of the 25 enrolled patients, 19 (median age, 15 years) were fully evaluable for toxicity and received 54 courses. Dose-limiting toxicity was rash in two patients treated with 500 mg/m2 and elevated ALT and AST in one patient treated with 400 mg/m2. The maximum-tolerated dose was 400 mg/m2/d. The most frequent non-dose-limiting toxicities were grade 1 or 2 dry skin, anemia, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. One patient with Ewing's sarcoma had a partial response. Disease stabilized for 8 to > or = 60 weeks in two patients with Wilms' tumor and two with brainstem glioma (one exophytic). At 400 mg/m2, the median peak gefitinib plasma concentration was 2.2 microg/mL (range, 1.2 to 3.6 microg/mL) and occurred at a median of 2.3 hours (range, 2.0 to 8.3 hours) after drug administration. The median apparent clearance and median half-life were 14.8 L/h/m2 (range, 3.8 to 24.8 L/h/m2) and 11.7 hours (range, 5.6 to 22.8 hours), respectively. Gefitinib systemic exposures were comparable with those associated with antitumor activity in adults.Oral gefitinib is well tolerated in children. Development of the drug in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy will be pursued.

Traditional phase I dose-finding studies for chemotoxic agents base dose escalation on toxicity, with escalation continuing until unacceptable toxicity is observed. Recent development of molecularly targeted agents that have little or no toxicity in the therapeutic dose range has raised questions over the best study designs for phase I studies. Two types of designs are proposed and evaluated in this paper. In these designs, escalation is based on a binary response that indicates whether or not the agent has had the desired effect on the molecular target. One design is developed to ensure that if the true target response rate is low there will be a high probability of escalating and if the true target response rate is high there will be a low probability of escalating. The other design is developed to continue to escalate as long as the true response rate is increasing and to stop escalating when the response rate plateaus or decreases. A limited simulation study is performed and the designs are compared with respect to the dose level at the end of escalation and the number of patients treated on study. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objectives: CCI-779 is an ester of the immunosuppressive agent sirolimus (rapamycin) that causes cell-cycle arrest at G1 via inhibition of key signaling pathways resulting in inhibition of RNA translation. Antitumor activity has been demonstrated using cell lines and animal models of malignant glioma. Patients receiving enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs (EIAEDs) can have altered metabolism of drugs like CCI-779 that are metabolized through the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme system. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the maximum tolerated dose of CCI-779 in patients with recurrent malignant gliioma taking EIAEDs. Study design: The starting dose of CCI-779 was 250 mg intravenously (IV) administered weekly on a continuous basis. Standard dose escalation was performed until the maximum tolerated dose was established. Toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria. Results: Two of 6 patients treated at the second dose level of 330 mg sustained a dose-limiting toxicity: grade III stomatitis, grade 3 hypercholesterolemia, or grade 4 hypertriglyceridemia. The maximum tolerated dose was reached at 250 mg IV. Pharmacokinetic profiles were similar to those previously described, but the area under the whole blood concentration-time curve of rapamycin was 1.6 fold lower for patients on EIAEDs. Conclusions: The recommended phase II dose of CCI 779 for patients on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs is 250 mg IV weekly. A phase II study is ongoing to determine the efficacy of this agent.

AbstractThe mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a downstream protein kinase of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase–Akt signalling pathway. As a result of its position within this pathway and its central role in controlling cellular growth, mTOR is viewed as an important target for anticancer therapeutics development. Currently, the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (sirolimus, Wyeth) and its derivatives temsirolimus (CCI-779, Wyeth), everolimus (RAD--001, Novartis Pharma AG) and AP-23573 (Ariad Pharmaceuticals) are being evaluated in cancer clinical trials. Preclinical studies suggest that sensitivity to mTOR inhibition may correlate with aberrant activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase pathway and/or with aberrant expression of cell-cycle regulatory or antiapoptotic proteins. Clinical trial results show that mTOR inhibitors are generally well tolerated and may induce prolonged stable disease and even tumour regressions in a subset of patients. Questions remain regarding optimal dose, schedule, patient selection and combinationstrategies for this novel class of agents.KeywordsAP-34573everolimusmammalian target of rapamycinsirolimustemsirolimus

To characterize the pharmacokinetics of temsirolimus and its major metabolite, sirolimus, in patients receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAED) compared with patients receiving non-EIAEDs. An additional objective was to determine whether concentrations of temsirolimus or sirolimus were achieved in brain tumor tissue.Patients with recurrent malignant gliomas not receiving EIAEDs initially received temsirolimus weekly at a dose of 250 mg i.v. The dose was subsequently reduced to 170 mg due to intolerable side effects. For patients taking EIAEDs, the starting dose of temsirolimus was 250 mg with standard dose escalation until the maximal tolerated dose was established. Ten whole blood samples were obtained over a period of 24 h after administration of temsirolimus for pharmacokinetic assessments. Patients eligible for cytoreductive surgery received temsirolimus before tumor resection. Whole blood and tumor tissue were obtained for analysis.Significant differences in the pharmacokinetic variables for temsirolimus and sirolimus were observed between the two patient groups at a comparable dose level of 250 mg. For patients receiving EIAEDs, the systemic exposure to temsirolimus was lower by 1.5-fold. Likewise, peak concentrations and exposure to sirolimus were lower by 2-fold. Measurable concentrations of temsirolimus and sirolimus were observed in brain tumor specimens. The average tissue to whole blood ratio for temsirolimus was 1.43 and 0.84 for sirolimus.Drugs that induce cytochrome P450 3A4, such as EIAEDs, significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of temsirolimus and its active metabolite, sirolimus. Total exposure to temsirolimus and sirolimus was lower in the EIAED group at the maximum tolerated dose of 250 mg compared with the non-EIAED group at the maximum tolerated dose of 170 mg. However, brain tumor tissue concentrations of temsirolimus and sirolimus were relatively comparable in both groups of patients at their respective dose levels. Correlative analyses of the tissue for the inhibition of the key regulators (p70S6 kinase and 4E-binding protein 1) of mammalian target of rapamycin are necessary to define the therapeutic significance of the altered exposure to temsirolimus.

In a phase II trial, 16 patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma received temsirolimus 25mg I.V. weekly until progression. One partial response and 5 minor responses were observed for a total response rate of 38%. The median time to progression was 138 days. Grade 3-4 toxicity included fatigue (n=3), neutropenia (n=2), thrombocytopenia (n=2), interstitial pneumonitis (n=1), stomatitis (n=1) and diarrhea (n=1). Clinical activity was associated with a higher area under the curve (AUC) and maximal reduction in phosphorylated p70(S6)K and 4EBP1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. At the dose and schedule used, temsirolimus had low single agent activity. Investigation of alternate dosing schedules and use in combinations is indicated.

IntroductionThis Phase I trial aimed to determine the maximum-tolerated-dose of erlotinib administered with two standard chemoradiotherapy regimens for non-small cell lung cancer.MethodsUnresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled in this 2-arm dose-escalation study. Erlotinib, given only during chemoradiotherapy, was escalated from 50 to 150 mg/d in 3 to 6 patient cohorts. Arm A: erlotinib with cisplatin (50 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8, 29, 36), etoposide (50 mg/m2 IV days 1-5, 29-33) and chest radiotherapy (66 Gy, 2 Gy/d) followed by docetaxel (75 mg/m2 IV Q21 d) for 3 cycles. Arm B: induction carboplatin (AUC 6) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m2) for two 21-d cycles then radiotherapy with erlotinib, carboplatin (AUC = 2/wk) and paclitaxel (50 mg/m2/wk).ResultsSeventeen patients were treated in each arm. Patient characteristics: performance status 0 to 24 patients, 1 to 10 patients, median age 63 years, adenocarcinoma 21% and female 14 patients. Dose-escalation of erlotinib to 150 mg/d was possible on both chemoradiotherapy regimens. Grade 3/4 leukopenia and neutropenia were predominant toxicities in both arms. Grade 3 chemoradiotherapy toxicities in arm A were esophagitis (3 patients), vomiting (1), ototoxicity (1), diarrhea (2), dehydration (3), pneumonitis (1); and arm B was esophagitis (6). Seven patients (21%) developed rash (all grade 1/2). Median survival times for patients on Arm A and B were 10.2 and 13.7 months, respectively. Three-year overall survival in patients with and without rash were 53% and 10%, respectively (log-rank P = 0.0807). Epidermal growth factor receptor IHC or FISH positive patients showed no significant overall survival difference.ConclusionAddition of standard-dose erlotinib to chemoradiotherapy is feasible without evident increase in toxicities. However, the survival data are disappointing in this unselected patient population and does not support further investigation of this approach.

Lapatinib (GW572016) is a selective and potent dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor 1 (EGFR) and 2 (HER2), approved in the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer. Since EGFR and HER2 overexpression has also been seen in prostate cancer and appears to correlate with a worse clinical outcome, Lapatinib may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer. This Phase II multicenter clinical trial is the first to evaluate Lapatinib in early stage, hormonally untreated recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer.Eligible patients received lapatinib 1500 mg PO daily until progression. The primary end point was prostate specific antigen (PSA) response. Archival tumor tissue was collected for EGFR and HER2 analysis.A total of 23 patients, median age 67, ECOG PS 0-2, mean baseline PSA 7.5, were evaluable for response. In total, 125 cycles were administered. The most frequent adverse events were lymphopenia, fatigue, rash, dyspepsia, and diarrhea. Grade 3+ increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was reported in 2 patients, and grade 4 blurry vision in 1 patient. No PSA responses were seen. Median time to progression (TTP) was 4.6 months and 6 months progression-free estimate was 44.5%.Lapatinib was well tolerated but like other EGFR- and HER2-targeted agents in advanced HRPC failed to show significant antitumor activity even in this very early stage hormonally untreated population.

BACKGROUND Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐dependent signaling are hallmarks of glioblastoma. In the current study, the authors conducted a phase 1/2 study of sorafenib (an inhibitor of Raf kinase and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR‐2]) and the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. METHODS Patients with recurrent glioblastoma who developed disease progression after surgery or radiotherapy plus temozolomide and with ≤2 prior chemotherapy regimens were eligible. The phase 1 endpoint was the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), using a cohorts‐of‐3 design. The 2‐stage phase 2 study included separate arms for VEGF inhibitor (VEGFi)–naive patients and patients who progressed after prior VEGFi. RESULTS The MTD was sorafenib at a dose of 200 mg twice daily and temsirolimus at a dose of 20 mg weekly. In the first 41 evaluable patients who were treated at the phase 2 dose, there were 7 who were free of disease progression at 6 months (progression‐free survival at 6 months [PFS6]) in the VEGFi‐naive group (17.1%); this finding met the prestudy threshold of success. In the prior VEGFi group, only 4 of the first 41 evaluable patients treated at the phase 2 dose achieved PFS6 (9.8%), and this did not meet the prestudy threshold for success. The median PFS for the 2 groups was 2.6 months and 1.9 months, respectively. The median overall survival for the 2 groups was 6.3 months and 3.9 months, respectively. At least 1 adverse event of grade ≥3 was observed in 75.5% of the VEGFi‐naive patients and in 73.9% of the prior VEGFi patients. CONCLUSIONS The limited activity of sorafenib and temsirolimus at the dose and schedule used in the current study was observed with considerable toxicity of grade ≥3. Significant dose reductions that were required in this treatment combination compared with tolerated single‐agent doses may have contributed to the lack of efficacy. Cancer 2018;124:1455‐63 . © 2018 American Cancer Society .

To compare the clinical efficacy and toxicity of doxycycline and bleomycin as sclerosing agents in the primary management of malignant pericardial effusion (MPE).Twenty-seven consecutive adult patients referred to a tertiary-care institution for the management of cardiac tamponade and malignancy underwent pericardial drainage through a percutaneously placed pigtail catheter. They were then alternately assigned to undergo bleomycin or doxycycline pericardial sclerosis.There were 13 men and 14 women, with a median age of 59 years. They mainly had lung (70%) and breast cancers (11%), and all had clinical and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac tamponade. Although all patients had successfully placed catheters, six were inadvertently dislodged before sclerosis; 11 underwent bleomycin sclerosis and 10 doxycycline sclerosis. Twenty patients (one early death) were assessable. One patient in each group failed to respond to sclerosis with the initial agent, but both were sclerosed successfully with the other agent. Sclerosis was achieved with a median of two instillations for each agent and total median doses of bleomycin 20 mg and doxycycline 1,250 mg. Seventy percent of doxycycline patients developed significant retrosternal pain, compared with no bleomycin patients (P = .04). Doxycycline patients required a median of 3.5 more days of hospitalization (8.5 v 5) and 2 more days of pericardial catheterization (7 v 5) compared with bleomycin patients. Tamponade recurred in one bleomycin patient at 253 days, and in no doxycycline patient.Although bleomycin and doxycycline are equally effective sclerosing agents, bleomycin is associated with significantly less morbidity and should be the first-line chemical sclerosing agent for malignant pericardial effusions.

Metastatic colon cancer is difficult to treat with treatment being palliative and with little effect on survival. This trial has evaluated the effects of LY231514 (Multitargeted antifolate (MTA)) given to previously untreated patients with recurrent or metastatic colorectal carcinoma.All patients were required to have a histological diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Patients had to have had performance status of 0-2, pretreatment absolute granulocyte count of > or = 1.5 x 10(9)/l and a platelet count of > or = 150 x 10(9)l. Patients received MTA at a dose of 600 mg/m2 by 10 minute infusion on day 1 repeated every 21 days. After the first 9 patients, this dose was reduced down to 500 mg/m2 every 21 days because of toxicity. Doses of MTA were modified depending on nadir counts.Thirty-two eligible patients were enrolled and twenty-nine were evaluable for response. Three patients did not have repeat radiological testing to determine response because they went off study after only one cycle of treatment due to toxicity. In the 29 evaluable patients, there was 1 complete response, 4 partial responses and 14 patients with stable disease. Response rate was 17.2% (95% confidence intervals: 5.8%-35.8%). All responses occurred in the patients receiving a starting dose of MTA 500 mg/m2. Median time to progression for all eligible patients was 3.3 months. The most common toxicities experienced were mild to moderate fever, lethargy, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and skin rash. There was one death due to sepsis.Single-agent MTA at 500 mg/m2 given every three weeks has modest activity in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Immunosuppressive-drugs are needed after solid organ transplantation to prevent allograft rejection but induce severe side effects. Understanding the alloimmune response is critical to modulate it and to achieve graft operational tolerance. The role of regulatory T cells and tolerogenic dendritic cells (Tol-DCs) is undoubtedly essential in tolerance induction. Tacrolimus is considered as the cornerstone of immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation. mTOR inhibitor such as rapamycin are thought to induce tolerance and are used as anticancer drugs in several cancers. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of these immunosuppressive drugs on the differentiation, maturation and function of human monocyte derived dendritic cells (DCs).DCs were differentiated from monocytes of healthy donors with either rapamycin (Rapa-DCs) or tacrolimus (Tac-DCs). The phenotype was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. The production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was assessed by ELISA. The mRNA expression level of IDO and PD-L1 was assessed by RTqPCR. Mixed leukocytes reactions were performed to analyse suppressive activity of DCs.Rapa-DC were characterised by a lower expression of the co-stimulatory molecules and CD83 than control-DCs (CTR-DC) (p < 0.05). In contrast, tacrolimus had no effect on the expression of surface markers compared to CTR-DCs. Rapamycin reduced both IL-12 and IL-10 secretions (p < 0.05). Rapa-DCs had a suppressive effect on CD4+ allogenic T cells compared to CTR-DCs (p < 0.05). However, neither Rapa-DCs nor Tac-DCs favoured the emergence of a CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ population compared to CTR-DCs. Surprisingly, Rapa-DCs had a reduced expression of IDO and PD-L1 compared to Tac-DCs and CTR-DCs.Rapa-DCs exhibit an incomplete phenotypic tolerogenic profile. To our knowledge this is the first paper showing a reduction of expression of pro-tolerogenic enzyme IDO in DCs. Tacrolimus does not change the phenotypical or functional characteristics of moDCs.

Studies have shown that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is important to normal development and neoplastic transformation, and that EGFR inhibition reduces cancer cell proliferation. The promising response rates of the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib in patients with chemotherapy-refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) led to its approval for clinical use. However, there was little understanding of why gefitinib was effective in only some NSCLC patients. Two recent studies have identified somatic mutations in EGFR that confer its sensitivity to gefitinib in vitro and correlate strongly with patients' clinical response to the inhibitor.

5568 Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors have demonstrated reproducible activity in patients with R/M SCCHN. HER2 is the preferred dimerization partner for EGFR. Lapatinib is a dual EGFR and HER2 kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated promising preclinical activity in SCCHN models. Methods: This phase II multi-institutional study enrolls patients with R/M SCCHN into 2 cohorts: those without prior exposure to an EGFR inhibitor (arm A) and those with prior exposure to an EGFR inhibitor (arm B). All subjects were treated with lapatinib 1500mg OD. Primary endpoints were response rate (arm A) and progression-free survival (arm B). Results: 42 subjects have been enrolled (27 arm A, 15 arm B; 35 male, 7 female, median age 60 years). Toxicity was generally mild without any dose reductions or patient withdrawal due to adverse effects. Diarrhea was the most frequent toxicity occurring in 40% of patients. Other toxicities observed included fatigue (21%), rash (21%) and nausea (14%). 2 patients experienced grade 3 toxicity (1 diarrhea, 1 emesis). 1 patient had a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (60% to 40%) which was asymptomatic and recovered to baseline upon discontinuation of lapatinib. No objective responses were observed in either arm. In an intent-to-treat analysis stable disease was the best response observed in 37% of arm A and 20% of arm B subjects. Median PFS was 1.6 months in arm A and 1.7 months in arm B. Conclusions: Lapatinib as a single agent in R/M SCCHN, although well tolerated, appears to have little activity in either EGFR inhibitor naïve or refractory subjects. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

UCN-01 is a staurosporine analogue shown to abrogate the G2 checkpoint through inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases. Preclinical evidence suggests synergy between UCN-01 and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Topotecan is an active agent in ovarian cancer. This phase II study was conducted to investigate the safety and efficacy of topotecan and UCN-01 in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.A two-stage phase II trial was designed for patients with advanced ovarian cancer with progressive disease despite prior treatment with platinum and paclitaxel. Patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with topotecan, 1 mg/m(2) IV, days 1 to 5, and UCN-01 70 mg/m(2) on day 1 of the first cycle, and 35 mg/m(2) on day 1 of all subsequent cycles. Treatment was repeated on a 3-week cycle. The primary objective of this study was objective response rate while secondary objectives included rates of stable disease, duration of response, progression-free and overall survival, as well as toxicity. Tumor biopsy specimens were also collected where possible for molecular correlative studies.Twenty-nine patients are evaluable for toxicity and efficacy. Three patients (10%) achieved a partial response. The median time to progression was 3.3 months (95% CI 1.5-NA), and the median overall survival was 9.7 months (95% CI: 7.5-15.3). The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (79%), anemia (41%), thrombocytopenia (14%), hyperglycemia (10%), and pain (10%).The combination of UCN-01 and topotecan is generally well tolerated, however, this combination is not considered to have significant antitumor activity against advanced ovarian cancer.

3003 Background: PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene and mutations in PTEN causing loss of protein expression/function may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of EC. Loss of PTEN protein expression has been reported in 26–80% of EC and leads to deregulated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling which may give neoplastic cells a survival advantage by enhancing angiogenesis, protein translation and cell cycle progression. Inhibition of mTOR, a protein kinase downstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway and target of rapamycins, inhibits proliferation of EC cell lines and formation of EC in PTEN−/+ heterozygous mice. We have evaluated temsirolimus (T) an ester derivative of rapamycin that inhibits mTOR given the frequent loss of PTEN in human EC. Methods: A two stage, phase II study has been conducted to evaluate single agent activity of T in women with recurrent or metastatic EC (chemotherapy naïve, upto 1 prior line of hormonal therapy). Treatment was 25mg i.v. weekly. One cycle is defined as 4 weeks of therapy. Thirty one patients (pts) have been registered; 23 are evaluable for toxicity and 19 for response. Results: Preliminary results have demonstrated encouraging activity and the trial fulfilled predefined criteria for activity. Of 19 pts evaluable for response, 5 have had a confirmed partial response (PR) (26%) and 12 have stable disease (SD) as best response (63%). Two pts had progressive disease (PD) (11%). PTEN, phosphorylated (p) mTOR and p-S6 protein (immunohistochemistry) results are available on 9 pts to date. The preliminary results indicate that responses and stable disease are seen in pts irrespective of PTEN status. Loss of p-mTOR was evident in tumor cells from all pts (range 75–99% loss) and did not correlate with response. Phosphorylated S6 was low in tumor cells in the one pt who had PD (5%), and levels were higher in pts with PR and SD (mean and median 30%). Conclusions: We conclude that Temsirolimus has encouraging single agent activity for in recurrent and metastatic EC, and the findings indicate this is irrespective of PTEN status. We are currently evaluating activity of T in pts previously treated with chemotherapy and molecular correlates in additional specimens. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Purpose To establish the safety and toxicity profile of daily gefitinib with radiation alone or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in previously untreated patients with locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer (LAHNC). Patients and Methods Patients with intermediate-stage LAHNC were treated with concomitant boost radiation (RT) alone with escalating doses of daily gefitinib (250 or 500 mg; cohort I). Once a safety profile was determined with RT alone, patients with high-risk disease were then treated with daily gefitinib (250 or 500 mg), weekly cisplatin (CDDP; 30 mg/m 2 ), and once-daily RT (cohort II). Patients also received post-RT gefitinib at 250 mg daily for a period of up to 2 years. Results Twenty-three patients were enrolled and assessable for toxicity. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in patients treated in cohort I at either 250 or 500 mg of gefitinib daily with concomitant boost RT to 72 Gy. In patients receiving chemoradiotherapy and gefitinib (cohort II), DLTs included one grade 4 diarrhea and one grade 4 neutropenic fever. Fifteen patients started maintenance gefitinib, and eight (53%) experienced grade 1 to 2 acne-like skin rash and diarrhea, but no grade 3 or 4 toxicity occurred. Conclusion Gefitinib (250 or 500 mg daily) was well tolerated with concomitant boost RT or concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly CDDP. Protracted administration of gefitinib for up to 2 years at 250 mg daily was also tolerated well.

UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) is a multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitor that exhibits synergistic activity with DNA-damaging agents in preclinical studies. We conducted a Phase I study to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic effects of UCN-01 and irinotecan in patients with resistant solid tumors. Patients received irinotecan (75–125 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22) and UCN-01 (50–90 mg/m2 IV on day 2 and 25–45 mg/m2 on day 23 and subsequent doses) every 42 days. Blood for pharmacokinetics of UCN-01 and irinotecan, and blood, normal rectal mucosa, and tumor biopsies for pharmacodynamic studies were obtained. Twenty-five patients enrolled to 5 dose levels. The MTD was irinotecan 125 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and UCN-01 70 mg/m2 on day 2 and 35 mg/m2 on day 23. DLTs included grade 3 diarrhea/dehydration and dyspnea. UCN-01 had a prolonged half-life and a low clearance rate. There was a significant reduction in SN-38 Cmax and aminopentanocarboxylic acid (APC) and SN-38 glucuronide half-lives. Phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 was reduced in blood, normal rectal mucosa, and tumor biopsies at 24 h post-UCN-01. Two partial responses were observed in women with ER, PgR, and HER2-negative breast cancers (TBNC). Both tumors were defective for p53. Twelve patients had stable disease (mean duration 18 weeks, range 7–30 weeks). UCN-01 and irinotecan demonstrated acceptable toxicity and target inhibition. Anti-tumor activity was observed and a study of this combination in women with TNBC is underway.

This phase I clinical trial was conducted to determine the safety, efficacy, and molecular effects of sorafenib with temsirolimus in patients with advanced melanoma.Patients with stage IV or unresectable or recurrent stage III melanoma and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1 were eligible. Sorafenib was given orally once or twice daily and temsirolimus was given i.v. weekly, both starting on day 1, with a 4-week cycle. Responses were assessed every 2 cycles per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Consenting patients with accessible tumors underwent optional tumor biopsies before treatment and after the second infusion of temsirolimus. Tumor biopsies were analyzed for activating mutations in BRAF and NRAS, and for expression of P-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK) and P-S6 proteins.A total of 25 patients were accrued to the study. The maximum tolerated doses were sorafenib 400 mg every morning and 200 mg every evening and temsirolimus 25 mg i.v. weekly. Dose-limiting toxicities included thrombocytopenia, hand-foot syndrome, serum transaminase elevation, and hypertriglyceridemia. There were no complete or partial responses with the combination; 10 patients achieved stabilization of disease as their best response. The median progression-free survival was 2.1 months. Matching pretreatment and day 15 tumor biopsies showed marked inhibition of P-S6 with treatment in 3 of 4 evaluable patients, but minimal inhibition of P-ERK.Combination therapy with sorafenib and temsirolimus resulted in significant toxicity at higher dose levels, failed to achieve any clinical responses in genetically unselected patient population, and did not inhibit P-ERK.

The objective of this phase I study was to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of erlotinib in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas (MGs) or recurrent meningiomas on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs). Dose escalation was by a standard 3 x 3 design. The initial starting dose of erlotinib was 150 mg daily. If no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed, then dose escalation occurs as follows: 200 mg/day, 275 mg/day, and then increased in 125 mg increments until the MTD was reached. The MTD was defined as the dose where < or = 1 of 6 patients experienced a DLT and the dose above had 2 or more DLTs. The MTD was 650 mg/day; the observed DLTs were grade 3 rash in 2 patients at 775 mg/day. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed a significant influence of EIAEDs on the metabolism of erlotinib when compared with our phase II data published separately. Primary toxicities were rash and diarrhea. The MTD of erlotinib in patients receiving EIAEDs is substantially higher than the standard dose of 150 mg. This has important implications for further development of this drug in the treatment of MG as well as the optimal management of patients with other malignancies such as NSCLC who are on enzyme-inducing drugs.

9502 Background: First-line therapy for advanced NSCLC includes PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy, and in combination with chemotherapy. Combination ICI have also demonstrated better survival compared to chemotherapy (CM-227). In CCTG BR.34, we compared overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving first-line durvalumab plus tremelimumab (DT) with or without platinum doublet chemotherapy (CT). Methods: This international, open-label, randomized trial accrued 301 participants from Canada and Australia, with stage IV NSCLC, EGFR/ALK wildtype, ECOG PS 0/1. Patients were randomized to DT for 4 cycles or DT+CT (pemetrexed- or gemcitabine-platinum), with ongoing D or D + pemetrexed (non-squamous) maintenance until disease progression. Stratification factors included histology, stage IVA v. IVB and smoking status. The primary endpoint was OS; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR = CR + PR) and adverse events (AEs). Results: At a median follow up of 16.6 months, no significant difference in OS was seen between the two treatment arms, with a median OS of 16.6 months with DT+CT v. 14.1 months with DT, (estimated HR 0.88, 90% CI 0.67-1.16). PFS was significantly improved in the DT+CT arm (stratified HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.52-0.88; medians 7.7 v. 3.2 months). ORR was higher in the DT+CT arm, 28% v. 14%, (odds ratio 2.1, p=0.001). Preplanned subgroup analysis demonstrated no significant differences in treatment outcomes by plasma TMB (&lt;20 v. ≥20 mut/Mb, Guardant OMNI), age, sex, or smoking status. There was a trend to improved OS with DT+CT in the subgroup with PD-L1 TPS≥50%, (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.40-1.04, p=0.07). Plasma TMB&lt;20 mut/Mb was associated with shorter survival in both treatment groups (HR 1.99, 95% 1.3-3.1). Toxicity was greater in the DT+CT arm, with grade≥3 adverse events in 82% v. 70%, (p=0.02), most commonly dyspnea, nausea and cough. The incidence of immune-related adverse events was similar between arms (colitis 11%, pneumonitis 6%, endocrinopathy 21%). Grade 5 events occurred in 2.7%, (5 with DT+CT, 3 with DT). Conclusions: The addition of CT to first-line DT did not improve OS in advanced NSCLC. CT+DT improved ORR and PFS, and was associated with greater toxicity. No differential effects were seen by PD-L1 TPS nor bTMB. These data suggest that adding chemotherapy to ICI may be beneficial in those with PD-L1 TPS &gt;=50%, and warrant further analysis in independent datasets. Clinical trial information: NCT03057106 .

Canada's vast geography, and centralized delivery of cancer care and clinical trials create barriers for trial participation for patients in remote and rural settings. The development and implementation of a framework that enables safe and regulatory compliant trial participation through local healthcare providers would benefit Canadian patients, clinicians, trial sponsors and the health care system. To address this issue, representatives of Canada's cancer clinical trial community met to identify key challenges and develop recommendations for remote patient participation in trials. A structured literature review identified remote/rural trial delivery models. A panel of expert stakeholders reviewed the models and participated in a workshop to assess health system readiness, identify needed processes, tools and mechanisms, and develop recommendations for a Canadian framework for decentralized clinical trial conduct. The Canadian Remote Access Framework for clinical Trials (CRAFT) represents a risk-based approach used by site investigators to delegate responsibilities for a given trial to satellite health centres within a hub-and-spoke "trial cluster". The Framework includes specific recommendations to ensure research experience, capacity, regulatory compliance and patient safety. Canada's cancer care and telemedicine systems can be leveraged to enable broader access to clinical trials for patients who are geographically remote from cancer centres. CRAFT's risk-based framework is based on other successful models of remote trial patient management and is in the pilot implementation phase in Canada.

The objective of a phase II clinical trial in oncology is to assess the antitumor activity of a specific treatment regimen. A multiple-testing procedure is commonly used to decide whether the experimental treatment warrants further investigation based on patients’ tumor response. There are ethical concerns about exposing patients to a new drug when the response rate is low and a relatively large number of patients have early progressive disease. Ensign et al. [1] Ensign, L G, Gehan, E A, Kamen, D S and Thall, P F. 1994. An optimal three-stage design for phase II clinical trials. Stat Med, 13: 1727–1736. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]proposed a stopping rule that rejects a drug early when there is a long run of early treatment failures. However, this approach may not be sensitive to pick up early progressors mixed with other nonresponders. In this paper, we present a multiple-stage stopping rule for a single-arm trial of an experimental treatment in which both tumor response and early progression are considered simultaneously. We use a multinomial model to accommodate an outcome of discrete multivariate responses in order to improve the efficiency of the stopping rule. The proposed multiple-testing procedure requires that both the numbers of responses and early progressions fall within the boundaries satisfying the stopping criteria in order to stop the study. Simulation is performed to validate these results and to compare them with other commonly used designs. Other applications of this method are also discussed.

A multinomial stopping rule had previously been developed that incorporated both objective response and early progression into decisions to stop or continue phase II trials of anticancer agents. The purpose of this study was to apply the multinomial rule to two independent sets of phase II data to assess its utility in appropriately recommending early trial closure as compared with other stopping rules.Data from completed phase II trials of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Early Clinical Studies Group (ECSG) formed the basis of the study. Based on observed results for each trial, the recommendation of the multinomial stopping rule was applied, as was the recommendation of the actual stopping rule used (Fleming or Gehan). The appropriateness of the recommendations was evaluated based on interpretation of final study results.The standard and multinomial rules disagreed on early stopping in one of 16 NCIC CTG trials and in seven of 23 ECSG trials. In all cases, the standard rule advised continuing to the second stage whereas the multinomial rule advised stopping early because of excessive numbers of patients experiencing early disease progression. Final trial results indicated that the multinomial recommendation was appropriate, because in no study did final results lead to conclusions of activity.In this series of trials, the multinomial stopping rule performed more efficiently than the Fleming or Gehan rules in advising early stopping of trials. These results encourage continued exploration of this approach for phase II trials of cytotoxic and noncytotoxic anticancer agents.

Preclinical studies demonstrate that intratumoral delivery of adenovirus expressing IL-2 eradicates pre-established tumors in mice and confers immune protection from rechallenge. To explore the activity of AdCAIL-2 in prostate cancer, a Phase I clinical trial was conducted in patients with localized disease and Gleason score >7 or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >10 plus Gleason score 7. A total of 12 patients were injected 4 weeks prior to prostatectomy in a dose-escalation study at doses of 10(9), 5 x 10(9) and 10(10) PFU of virus. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. Side effects included perineal discomfort, hematuria, flu-like symptoms in two patients and urinary hesitancy in one patient. Pathology demonstrated an inflammatory response consisting predominantly of CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes with areas of tumor necrosis. Intracellular cytokine staining of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes demonstrated increases in both gamma-interferon and IL-4 secreting T cells after vaccination. PSA levels fell in five of five evaluable patients treated at the lowest dose (mean decline of 33.3%, range 17-69%). At higher doses, PSA values initially increased after injection, then fell to baseline prior to surgery. This trial demonstrates the feasibility and safety of intraprostatic adenovector-mediated IL-2 gene delivery.