bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency of homologous recombination-related (HRR) genes mutations in gastric cancer.
Authors: Wang Wei , Huaiming Wang , Chen Yuhong , Liu Huanhuan , Zhang Yanrui , Liang Xiayuan , Zhang Yun , Lou Feng , Cao Shanbo , Wang Huina 
Published: June 2021

4031 Background: Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) might contribute to predict response of immunotherapy and Chemotherapy response and PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. The HRD phenotype has been defined as the presence of a non-silent somatic mutation in homologous recombination-related (HRR) genes. We aimed to analyze the mutational pattern of HRR genes and the relationship between HRR-related genes and clinical outcomes in gastric cancer. Methods: We prospectively sequenced 386 Chinese patients with gastric cancer using next-generation sequencing techniques with 808 cancer-related genes. 440 patients with WES data from the TCGA project were included. The 15 HRR genes were selected on clinical evidence of sensitivity to PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy. Correlations between HRR genes and clinical outcomes were identified via bioinformatic analysis using TCGA datasets. Results: In the Chinese cohort, 10.4% (40/386) patients exhibited genomic alterations in HRR genes. The frequently mutated genes were BRCA2 (2.3%), ATM (1.8%), CDK12 (1.8%), BRCA1 (1.0%), CHEK2(1.0%), PALB2(0.8%), BARD1 (0.5%), RAD51B (0.5%), and RAD54L (0.3%). 8.3% patients had at least one somatic HRR genes mutation. Pathogenic germline variants were identified in 2.1% (8/386) patients. No participants carried both germline and somatic HRR gene mutations. In TCGA cohort, 19.1% (841/440) patients had at least one somatic mutation in an HRR gene. The frequently mutated genes were BRCA2 (6.4%), ATM (6.4%), CDK12 (3.2%), BRCA1 (3.2%), BARD1 (2.3%), PALB2 (2.3%), HEK2 (1.6%), CHEK1 (1.4%), BROP1 (1.1%), RAD54L (1.1%), FANCL (0.9%), RAD51D (0.9%), RAD51C (0.7%), PPP2R2A (0.5%), and RAD51B (0.5%). Chinese cohort had lower frequently somatic mutation of HRR genes compared to that in TCGA cohort (8.3% vs 19.1%, p < 0.001). Interestingly, in the TCGA cohort, patients with HRR-mut had significantly elevated tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability status and enhanced immune activity than patients with HRR-wt. In the MSK-IMPACT cohort comprising 49 patients treated with ICIs, patients with HRR-mut had significantly better overall survival compared to those in patients with HRR-wt (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Our data suggest that patients with altered HRR genes may be rational candidates for precision oncology treatment and provide new opportunities to predict the tumor response to multiple treatments, such as immunotherapeutic combine PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. Exploring other biomarkers of HRD to predict the response to PARPi and immunotherapeutic in GC is necessary.
A multicenter phase II study of S-1 plus ramucirumab as first-line treatment in elderly patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer (KSCC1701).
Authors: Katsuya Hiroo , Suyama Koichi , Kobayashi Kazuma , Izawa Naoki , Uenosono Yoshikazu , Hu Qingjiang , Kusumoto Tetsuya , Otsu Hajime , Orita Hiroyuki , Kawanaka Hirofumi , Shibao Kazunori , Koga Satoshi , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Makiyama Akitaka , Saeki Hiroshi , Oki Eiji , Baba Hideo , Mori Masaki 
Published: June 2021

4043 Background: Elderly patients are often intolerable in the combination with cytotoxic agents. Therapy with S-1 alone is a key option for initial chemotherapy for Japanese elderly patients with unresectable gastric cancer in clinical practice. However, there are some cases in which the antitumor effects with S-1 alone are insufficient. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus ramucirumab therapy to elderly patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer. Methods: Patients aged 70 years and older with previously untreated unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer patients were included in Japan. They received S-1 therapy (40-60 mg twice daily for 28 days, every 6 weeks) plus ramucirumab therapy (8 mg/kg, every 2 weeks) until disease progression. The primary endpoint was the one-year survival rate and null hypothesis of one-year survival was set as 40%, which is the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval in previously reported studies on S-1 therapy. The secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), and safety. Results: Between September 2017 and November 2019, 48 patients were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of patients were male/female: 34/14, median age: 77.5 years (range: 71-87), and PS (0/1): 20/28. The one-year survival rate was 65.2% (95% confidence interval 49.8-78.6%), which means this trial met the primary endpoint. The median OS and PFS were 16.4 months (95%CI:12.0–20.7) and 5.8 months (95%CI:4.0–7.2), respectively. The best RR (CR+PR) was 60.9%. The frequent grade 3 or grade 4 adverse events were neutropenia (27.7%), anorexia (23.4%), anemia (19.1%), hypertension (14.9%), leucopenia (12.8%) and hypoalbuminemia (12.8%). Conclusions: Based on the observed efficacy and safety, S-1 plus ramucirumab is an appropriate first-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer. Clinical trial information: UMIN000028309.
Risk factors of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis after potentially curative gastric cancer resection in the CRITICS trial.
Authors: Caspers Irene A , Sikorska Karolina , Slagter Astrid E. , Meershoek – Klein Kranenbarg Elma , Van De Velde Cornelis J.H. , Lind Pehr A. , Nordsmark Marianne , Jansen Edwin PM , Verheij Marcel , van Sandick Johanna W. , Cats Annemieke , van Grieken Nicole C.T. 
Published: June 2021

4053 Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is accountable for over 50% of metastatic spread in gastric cancer (GC). Little is known about factors contributing to the risk of metachronous PC as a single site of metastases after preoperative chemotherapy and potentially curative resection. An accurate prediction model of risk factors identifying high risk populations may pave the way for new treatment strategies, such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy. In this analysis, risk factors for the development of isolated metachronous PC after preoperative chemotherapy and surgical resection were investigated. Methods: In the CRITICS trial, 788 patients with resectable GC were randomized for preoperative chemotherapy and gastrectomy followed by either chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Patients who underwent a potentially curative resection without peritoneal metastases at time of surgery were included in this analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a competing risk model. Results: In total, 617 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 97 of 617 (16%) patients developed metachronous PC. The peritoneum was the first site of recurrence in 64 of 617 (10%) patients. Diffuse or mixed type GC, ypT4 stage and ypN3 stage or a lymph node ratio (LNR) with >20% tumor positivity were independent predictors of isolated PC in both univariate and multivariate analyses with hazard ratios (HR) of 2.90, 2.63 and 2.31, respectively (Table). ypT4 and ypN3 stage or a LNR >20% were also independent predictors of distant recurrence or death with HR of 1.46 and 2.34, respectively. Patients in whom all predictors were present had the highest 2 year cumulative incidences of both isolated PC development and other events of 39.6% and 48.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Diffuse or mixed tumor type, ypT4 and ypN3 or a LNR >20% were identified as independent risk factors for metachronous PC as a single site of metastases in a large cohort of patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. The combination of these factors might identify a subgroup that could benefit from preventive treatment strategies.[Table: see text]
A phase II study of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (camrelizumab plus albumin paclitaxel and carboplatin) in resectable thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer (NICE study): Interim results.
Authors: Li Zhigang , Liu Jun , Zhang Ming , Shao Jinchen , Yang Yang , Li Hongxuan , Liu Zhichao , Zhang Renquan , Yu Bentong , Chen Hezhong 
Published: June 2021

4060 Background: We conducted a phase II trial of preoperative chemotherapy with albumin paclitaxel and carboplatin combined with camrelizumab (NICE regimen), in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with multiple lymph nodes metastasis. Initial results were analyzed to assess the efficacy and safety of this strategy. Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, open, single arm, phase II trial. Eligible patients were histologically confirmed thoracic ESCC, staged as T1b-4a, N2-3 (≥ 3 stations), and M0 or M1 lymph node metastasis (confined to the supraclavicular lymph nodes) according to the 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer. Patients received neoadjuvant treatment (NICE regimen) with intravenous camrelizumab (200 mg, day 1) plus albumin paclitaxel (100 mg/m2, day 1, 8, 15) and carboplatin (area under curve 5, day 1) of each 21-day cycle, for two cycles before surgery. The primary endpoint is pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the per-protocol population, which included all patients who had tumor resection and received at least one cycle of neoadjuvant treatment. Secondary endpoints include R0 resection rate, adverse events and disease-free survival. Safety was assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population. Results: Of the planned 60 patients enrolled, 55 (91.7%) patients have received the full two-cycles NICE regimen successfully, 4 patients didn’t receive the complete neoadjuvant therapy due to intolerance (3 patients) and drop out (1 patient), 1 patient died due to pneumonia on the second cycle of neoadjuvant therapy. Grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) rate was 53.3% and TRAEs resulting in discontinuation rate was 6.7%. The common grade 3-5 TRAEs included lymphopenia (50%), thrombocytopenia (10%), pneumonia (5%) and thyroid dysfunction (3.3%). At the time of writing, 47 patients underwent surgery within 27-85 days (median 36 days) after NICE treatment, in which 7 patients had delays to surgery due to TRAEs. All patients achieved radical (R0) resection. There was no in-hospital and postoperative 30-day mortality. pCR (ypT0N0) was identified in 20 (42.5%) of 47 patients and 5 (10.6%) patients had complete pathological response of the primary tumor but residual disease in lymph nodes alone (ypT0N+). Conclusions: Preoperative NICE regimen has achieved satisfatory initial results of disease response in locally advanced thoracic ESCC. A phase III randomized controlled trial is required to demonstarate the possible survival improvement. Trial registration: ChiCTR1900026240 Clinical trial information: ChiCTR1900026240.
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients (pts) with advanced gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC): Interim results of nivolumab plus chemotherapy (N+C) versus (C) from CheckMate 649.
Authors: Wyrwicz Lucjan , Elimova Elena , Blum Steven I. , Xiao Hong , Davenport Eric , Wang Jinyi , Hunter Shannon , Li Mingshun , Kondo Kaoru , Moehler Markus H. 
Published: June 2021

4066 Background: CheckMate 649 (NCT02872116) is a randomized, open label phase 3 study in first line (1L) GC/GEJC/EAC. Prespecified interim results showed statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for N+C vs C in all randomized pts and pts whose tumors expressed programmed death-ligand 1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5. We present interim HRQOL results for CPS ≥ 5 pts, included as exploratory in the study. Methods: HRQOL was assessed using EQ-5D-3L (EQ-5D) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Gastric Cancer (FACT-Ga). Assessments were performed at baseline (BL), every 6 weeks during treatment, and during follow-up. Change from BL EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Utility Index (UI) and FACT-Ga scores were analyzed using mixed models. Time to first symptom deterioration (TTSD), time until definitive deterioration (TuDD), and time to improvement (TTI) were estimated with Kaplan-Meier estimators and stratified Cox models; deterioration/improvement was based on prespecified meaningful change thresholds. Results: 1,581 pts were randomized to N+C (n = 789) and C (n = 792); of those, 955 pts had CPS ≥ 5 (N+C [n = 473] and C [n = 482]). Among 821 pts with BL and post BL PROs (N+C [n = 421] and C [n = 400]), BL scores for FACT-Ga total were similar for N+C and C. Least-squares mean differences from BL favored N+C at most visits for EQ-5D and FACT-Ga total and GaCS, and were comparable for other FACT subscales (data not shown). TTI largely favored N+C (most hazard ratios (HR) > 1) but was not significantly different between treatments. For TTSD, pts treated with N+C had decreased risk of deterioration (HR < 1) in EQ-5D UI, FACT-Ga total, and GaCS. TuDD showed statistically significant delays in deterioration (HR with confidence intervals [CI] < 1) for all scores. Conclusions: Pts with 1L GC/GEJC/EAC experienced better HRQOL with N+C compared with C alone. Change from BL in EQ-5D and FACT-Ga total and GaCS favored N+C at most visits. N+C decreased deterioration risk compared to C with OS and PFS improvement, suggesting favorable benefits in 1L GC/GEJC/EAC pts with CPS ≥ 5. Clinical trial information: NCT02872116. [Table: see text]
Preliminary results of molecular screening for FGFR alterations (alts) in the RAGNAR histology-agnostic study with the FGFR-inhibitor (FGFRi) erdafitinib.
Authors: Massard Christophe , Pant Shubham , Iyer Gopa , Schuler Martin H. , Witt Olaf , Qin Shukui , Tabernero Josep , Doi Toshihiko , Hargrave Darren R. , Hammond Constance , Little Shonda Marie , Xia Qi , Cao Jing , Santiago-Walker Ademi E. , Sweiti Hussein 
Published: June 2021

4081 Background: FGFR alts (mutations and fusions) have been reported in multiple advanced solid tumors at varying frequencies. These alts may function as oncogenic drivers of disease independent of the underlying tumor type. RAGNAR is an ongoing phase 2, histology-agnostic trial investigating the efficacy and safety of erdafitinib, a selective pan-FGFRi, in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors and FGFR alts. Little is known about the incidence, diversity or predominant FGFR alts across solid tumors in the clinical setting. Here, we provide an update on molecular screening and enrollment in the primary analysis population. Methods: Pts with advanced solid tumors were molecularly screened for eligible FGFR alts via central next generation sequencing (NGS) or review of local NGS reports. Underlying tumor type, FGFR alts, demographics and key disease characteristics were collected at baseline. Results: From Nov 2019 to Jan 2021, 5758 pts were molecularly screened (central or local) in 15 countries. 191 pts (3.3%) fulfilled primary analysis molecular eligibility criteria; 110 pts were enrolled. Among pts enrolled, 14 (12.7%) had central screening and 96 (87.3%) had local NGS reports. Eligible FGFR alts were identified in 19 tumor types, including rare cancers and ones (eg, pancreatic) with a very low prevalence of FGFR alts in genomic databases (Table). Median age was 57 y, and 19 pts (17.3%) were < 40 y. Gender distribution was even. Conclusions: Findings from molecular screening in the RAGNAR study indicate a wide range of FGFR-altered tumor types, including a notable number of cancers where eligible FGFR alts were considered exceedingly rare (eg, pancreatic). These results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting clinical trials on pts with rare genetic alts by adopting a histology-agnostic design and using both central testing and local NGS reports for molecular screening. This approach also helps investigate rare tumors, where histology-specific trials are challenging. Efficacy and safety results from the RAGNAR study will help define the benefit of erdafitinib in FGFR-altered advanced solid tumors. Clinical trial information: NCT04083976. [Table: see text]
Treatment-related toxicity and improved outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Authors: Cortellini Alessio , Marron Thomas Urban , Mishra-Kalyani Pallavi Shruti , Gong Yutao , Saeed Anwaar , Jun Tomi , Dharmapuri Sirish , Naqash Abdul Rafeh , Khan Uqba , Kaseb Ahmed Omar , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Ang Celina , Schneider Julie A. , Pillai Anjana , Rimassa Lorenza , Pazdur Richard , Theoret Marc Robert , Lemery Steven , Pelosof Lorraine Cheryl , Pinato David James 
Published: June 2021

4085 Background: The development of treatment-related adverse events (trAE) correlates favorably with clinical outcomes in multiple studies of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), however, this relationship is undefined in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective multi-center study aimed to examine whether trAEs are prognostic in HCC. Methods: We established an international consortium of 10 tertiary-care referral centers located in Europe (n = 67), United States (US, n = 248) and Asia (n = 42) to test whether the development of clinically significant trAE (i.e. graded >2, trAE2) predicted for improved overall (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rates (ORR) following ICI, and subsequently validated this association in a separate cohort of 406 HCC patients receiving ICI therapy as part of international clinical trials submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in support of marketing applications. Results: In a multi-institutional cohort of 357 patients, 274 (77%) with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C HCC mostly treated with ICI monotherapy (n = 304, 85%), trAE were reported in 146 patients (41%). Development of trAE2 were associated with longer OS (23.3 versus 12.2 months) and PFS (8.6 months versus 3.7 months). After adjusting for viral aetiology, gender, presence of cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class, BCLC stage, AFP levels, ECOG-PS, ICI regimen (mono/combination therapy) and receipt of corticosteroid therapy, trAE2 were confirmed predictors of improved OS (HR 0.55; 95%CI:0.34-0.88) and PFS (HR 0.51; 95%CI: 0.35-0.74). TrAE2 were associated with higher ORR (27% versus 16%) from ICI. The association between trAE2 and patients’ OS (HR 0.49; 95%CI:0.34-0.70) and PFS (HR 0.43; 95%CI:0.32-0.59) was also observed in the FDA dataset. After a 6-weeks landmark selection, trAE2 were confirmed to be associated with improved PFS (HR 0.59; 95%CI:0.39-0.87); the additional analysis adjusted for tumour response and duration of treatment within the FDA cohort further confirmed the association with longer PFS (HR 0.67; 95%CI: 0.47-0.94). Conclusions: Development of trAE2 may correlate with response and survival in patients with HCC receiving ICI, a clinical setting where the lack of biomarkers still represents an unmet need. Prospective studies aimed at understanding the underlying immunologic foundations of such relationship are warranted to identify predictive biomarkers of toxicity and response.
ARID1A mutation to predict disease progression during first-line chemotherapy in biliary tract cancer patients.
Authors: Lee Sung Hwan , Cheon Jaekyung , Lee Seoyoung , Choi Hye Jin , Kang Beodeul , Im Hyeon-Su , Kim Chan , Choi Sung Hoon , Lee Choong-kun , Chon Hongjae 
Published: June 2021

4105 Background: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a retractable disease showing a dismal prognosis with therapeutic resistance. There are clinical unmet needs on predicting therapeutic response and precise strategy for the patient classification according to clinically relevant tumor biology in the patients with BTC. We aimed to identify clinically detectable genomic alteration predicting therapeutic response after first-line chemotherapy in BTC using real-world data. Methods: A comprehensive genomic analysis of multi-institutional cohorts of BTC cases was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) with targeted DNA panel and patients’ clinicopathologic data. Results: A total of 200 BTC patients with NGS panel tests from three cancer centers were included in this study. The genomic alteration of TP53 (55.5%), KRAS (23%), ARID1A (10%), and ERBB2 amplification (10%) were the most frequent alteration events in the BTC. Pathologically-proved BTC including extrahepatic (n = 52), ampulla of Vater (n = 4), gallbladder (n = 56), intrahepatic (n = 88) cancers showed a distinct pattern of genomic alterations in terms of ARID1A for extrahepatic BTC and ERBB2 amplification, RB1, ARID2 for GB cancer, and KRAS, IDH1, PBRM1, BAP1 for intrahepatic BTC respectively (chi-square test, P < 0.05). The oncologic outcomes for progression-free and overall survival were significantly stratified according to the best response after the first-line chemotherapy (log-rank test, P < 0.001). The logistic regression test revealed that ARID1A, BRCA2, and STK11 could significantly predict disease progression during first-line chemotherapy. ARID1A, especially, was the only independent predictive marker in the multivariate regression model in total BTC (OR 3.91, 95%CI 1.25-11.66, P = 0.015) and extrahepatic BTC (OR 5.71, 95%CI 1.23-28.98, P = 0.027). The predictive performance of significant genomic alteration was enhanced with the tumor marker CA19-9 (DeLong’s test, Z = 1.933, P = 0.053, AUC 0.73, 95%CI 0.623-0.837). Conclusions: Clinically available NGS test showed distinct genomic alterations in terms of different deterioration patterns for oncogenic molecular pathways according to the anatomic locations of BTC. Integrative analysis using the data for genomic alteration and therapeutic response for the first-line chemotherapy uncover that the patients with ARID1A mutation show a significant disease progression rate during initial treatment for BTC, especially in the extrahepatic BTC. Prospective translational studies revealing underlying biology and precision strategy should be followed to improve the therapeutic response of BTC.