bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of KIT Tyrosine Kinase Activity: A Novel Molecular Approach to the Treatment of KIT-Positive Malignancies
Authors: Heinrich Michael C. , Blanke Charles D. , Druker Brian J. , Corless Christopher L. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: Activation of the KIT tyrosine kinase by somatic mutation has been documented in a number of human malignancies, including gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), seminoma, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and mastocytosis. In addition, paracrine or autocrine activation of this kinase has been postulated in numerous other malignancies, including small-cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer. In this review, we discuss the rationale for and development of KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of human malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies were identified through a MEDLINE search, review of bibliographies of relevant articles, and review of abstracts from national meetings. RESULTS: Four tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have activity against KIT are currently being used in clinical trials, and one, STI571, has recently been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The role of KIT inhibitors in treating KIT-positive malignancies is reviewed. CONCLUSION: Targeted therapy to inhibit the kinase activity of KIT is a rational approach to the treatment of KIT-positive malignancies. Two key factors are the potency of a given inhibitor and the relative contribution of KIT activation to the growth of the tumor. Given our current understanding of KIT activity in human malignancy, the best candidate diseases for treatment with KIT inhibitors are GIST, mastocytosis, seminoma and possibly some cases of AML. Additionally, KIT inhibitors may play an adjunctive role in diseases such as small-cell lung cancer, in which KIT activation is secondary to ligand binding rather than an acquired mutation.
Outcome in adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients compared with younger patients treated for high-risk B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR-ALL): A report from the Children’s Oncology Group study AALL0232.
Authors: Larsen Eric , Raetz Elizabeth A. , Winick Naomi Joan , Salzer Wanda L. , Nachman James B. , Devidas Meenakshi , Hunger Stephen , Carroll William L. 
Published: February 2017

CRA9508 Background: Historically, AYA patients (>16yrs of age) with HR-ALL have an inferior outcome compared to HR-ALL patients 1-15 yrs old, due to increased rates of both relapse and toxicity. Methods: AALL0232 was a phase III randomized trial for patients 1-30 years of age with newly diagnosed B-precursor HR-ALL that utilized a 2 x 2 factorial design with an augmented intensity Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) backbone. Patients were randomized to receive dexamethasone versus prednisone during Induction and high dose methotrexate versus escalating Capizzi methotrexate during Interim Maintenance I. A total of 2,574 eligible, evaluable, non-Down Syndrome, non-very high risk patients were randomized between January 2004 and January 2011. AYA patients comprised 20% of this group (n=501; 16-21 yrs: 466 and 22-30 yrs: 35). Results: The 5-yr event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 68.0% and 79.8% for AYA patients compared to 80.9% and 88.4% for younger patients (p<0.0001). The 5-yr cumulative incidence of relapse was 21.3% for AYA patients and 13.4% for younger patients (p=0.0018), largely due to higher rate of marrow relapse (15.2% vs. 9.0%; p<0.0007) and not CNS relapse (5.2% vs. 3.7%; p=0.5776). In addition, fewer AYA patients achieved remission, defined as <5% marrow blasts at end induction (97.2% vs. 98.8%; p=0.0134). There was no significant difference in induction mortality between AYA and younger patients, 2.4% vs. 1.8% (p=0.36). However post-induction remission deaths were significantly higher in AYA compared with younger patients, 5.5% vs. 2.1% at 5 years (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This is the largest cohort of AYA ALL patients presented to date and confirms high cure rates for AYA patients treated on pediatric ALL trials. AYA HR-ALL patients had lower EFS and OS compared to younger patients, primarily attributable to both higher rates of marrow relapses and remission deaths. Effective strategies to improve the outcome of AYA patients with HR-ALL should be aimed at both furthering leukemia eradication and lowering toxicity of therapy for this patient population.
Updated analysis of the phase III, double-blind, randomized, multinational study of radium-223 chloride in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with bone metastases (ALSYMPCA).
Authors: Parker Chris , Nilsson Sten , Heinrich Daniel , O'Sullivan Joe M. , Fossa Sophie D. , Chodacki Ales , Wiechno Pawel J. , Logue John P. , Seke Mihalj , Widmark Anders , Johannessen Dag Clement , Hoskin Peter , Bottomley David , Coleman Robert Edward , Vogelzang Nicholas J. , O'Bryan-Tear C. Gillies , Garcia-Vargas Jose E. , Shan Minghua , Sartor A. Oliver 
Published: February 2017

LBA4512 Background: Radium-223 chloride (Ra-223), a targeted alpha-emitter, targets bone metastases (mets) with high-energy alpha-particles of short range (<100 µm). ALSYMPCA, a phase III double-blind, randomized, multinational study, compared Ra-223 plus best standard of care (BSC) vs placebo plus BSC in CRPC patients (pts) with bone mets. In a planned interim analysis (n = 809), based on 314 events, Ra-223 significantly improved overall survival (OS) vs placebo (median 14.0 mo vs 11.2 mo, respectively; HR = .695; 95% CI, .552-.875; 2-sided p = .00185). Secondary endpoints were met and Ra-223 safety was favorable. An updated analysis was conducted prior to the crossover to further assess the effect of Ra-223 on the primary endpoint (OS), secondary endpoints including skeletal-related events (SREs), and safety. Methods: Eligible pts had confirmed symptomatic CRPC with ≥ 2 bone mets; no known visceral mets; and were post-docetaxel, unfit for docetaxel, or had declined docetaxel. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive 6 injections of Ra-223 (50 kBq/kg IV) q4wks or matching placebo. An updated descriptive analysis of OS, based on 528 events, was performed including data from all randomized pts prior to implementing crossover to Ra-223 for placebo pts. Results: 921 pts (Ra-223, n = 614; placebo, n = 307) were randomized from 6/2008-2/2011. Ra‑223 significantly improved OS vs placebo (median 14.9 mo vs 11.3 mo, respectively; HR = .695; 95% CI, .581-.832; p = 0.00007), and time to first SRE was significantly prolonged (median 15.6 mo vs 9.8 mo, respectively; HR = 0.658; 95% CI, 0.522-0.830; p = 0.00037). Safety and tolerability of Ra-223 remained favorable, with low myelosuppression (e.g., gr 3/4 neutropenia in 2.2% and 0.7% and gr 3/4 thrombocytopenia in 6.3% and 2% of the Ra-223 and placebo groups, respectively). Conclusions: On updated analysis, the median OS benefit for Ra-223 increased from 2.8 to 3.6 months, with a hazard ratio of 0.695 (i.e., 30.5% reduction in risk of death). Ra-223 is an effective therapy that improves OS and time to first SRE with a highly favorable safety profile, and may provide a new standard of care for CRPC pts with bone mets.
METRIC phase III study: Efficacy of trametinib (T), a potent and selective MEK inhibitor (MEKi), in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), compared with chemotherapy (C) in patients (pts) with BRAFV600E/K mutant advanced or metastatic melanoma (MM).
Authors: Robert Caroline , Flaherty Keith T. , Hersey Peter , Nathan Paul D. , Garbe Claus , Milhem Mohammed M. , Demidov Lev V. , Hassel Jessica C. , Rutkowski Piotr , Mohr Peter , Dummer Reinhard , Trefzer Uwe , Larkin James M. G. , Utikal Jochen , Casey Michelle , Sherman Laurie Jill , Crist Wendy A. , Wu Frank S. , Patel Kiran , Schadendorf Dirk 
Published: February 2017

LBA8509 Background: Dacarbazine (D) and paclitaxel (P) have been used to treat MM pts with limited effect. The MM treatment landscape has recently changed with the approval of vemurafenib and ipilimumab in 2011, but secondary malignancies or other toxicities are of concerns. T is a reversible, highly selective allosteric inhibitor of MEK1/2 activation and kinase activity. In a PhII trial (NCT01037127), pts with BRAFV600E mutation MM had median PFS of 5.3 mos. This PhIII trial (NCT01245062) was conducted in pts with BRAFV600E/K mutant advanced or MM. Methods: Pts were randomized 2:1 to T (2mg QD) or C (D or P). Pts were stratified by baseline LDH level and prior C; pts in the C arm were allowed to crossover to receive T after confirmation of PD. Primary endpoint was PFS in pts with BRAFV600E mutation-positive MM and no prior brain mets; secondary endpoints were OS, ORR and safety in primary and ITT. PFS and OS were compared using a stratified log-rank test. The study was designed with ≥99% power and one-sided α = 0.025 to detect 57% reduction in the risk of PD or death in pts treated with T vs C. Results: Between Dec 2010 and Jul 2011, 322 pts were randomized to T (n=214) or C (n=108); 273 pts were BRAFV600E mutation-positive with no prior brain mets. HR for primary population for PFS by investigator was 0.44 (95% CI 0.31–0.64; p<0.0001) in favor of T with a median PFS of 4.8 mo vs 1.4 mo with C. PFS benefit in favor of T was observed in ITT; this was confirmed by an independent review. The confirmed ORR was 24% with T and 7% with C. HR for interim OS was 0.53 (95% CI 0.30–0.94; p=0.0181), in favor of T in primary population. OS benefit was consistent in ITT pop despite 51 pts crossover from C to T. The most frequent AEs with T were skin rash, diarrhea, edema, hypertension, fatigue. Known MEKi class effects were observed, e.g. chorioretinopathy (<1%) and decreased ejection fraction (7%). Grade 3 AEs in T arm were hypertenstion (12%) and rash (7%). Conclusions: T is the first in class MEKi associated with a significant improvement of PFS and OS compared to C in pts with BRAFV600E/K mutant MM.
Effects of everolimus (EVE) on disease progression in bone and bone markers (BMs) in patients (pts) with bone metastases (mets).
Authors: Hart Lowell L. , Baselga José , Rugo Hope S. , Noguchi Shinzaburo , Pritchard Kathleen I. , Burris Howard A. , Piccart-Gebhart Martine J. , Eakle Janice F. , Mukai Hirofumi , Iwata Hiroji , El-Hashimy Mona , Rao Shantha , Panneerselvam Ashok , Taran Tanya , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Sahmoud Tarek , Lebwohl David Edward , Gnant Michael 
Published: February 2017

102 Background: BOLERO-2, a multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study in postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor–positive breast cancer (BC) refractory to nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAIs), showed significant clinical benefits with the addition of EVE to exemestane (EXE) (Baselga J et al. NEJM2011 Epub). As bone resorption is an important factor in BC mets, it is interesting to study bone-related effects of EVE. In preclinical studies, mTOR inhibition was associated with decreased osteoclast survival and activity. Exploratory analyses in BOLERO-2 evaluated the effects of EVE vs placebo (PBO) on BM levels and BC progression in bone in pts with bone mets at baseline. Methods: Eligible pts were treated with EXE (25 mg once daily) and randomized (2:1) to EVE (10 mg once daily) or PBO. Bone turnover markers (BMs) were exploratory endpoints analyzed at 6 and 12 wks after treatment initiation and included bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen, and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen. Progressive disease in bone (PDB) was defined as worsening of a preexisting bone lesion or a new bone lesion. Results: Baseline disease characteristics, including bone mets at baseline (n = 370, 76% EVE vs n = 184, 77% PBO), were well balanced between arms (N = 724), and baseline bisphosphonate use was not (44% EVE vs 55% PBO). At 12.5 mo median follow-up, progression-free survival (primary endpoint), overall response rate, and clinical benefit rate (p < 0.0001, all) were significantly higher with EVE (n = 485) vs PBO (n = 239). BM levels at 6 and 12 wks increased vs baseline with PBO but decreased with EVE. The cumulative incidence rate of BC PBD was lower for EVE vs PBO at day 60 (3.03% vs 6.16%, respectively), and this trend was sustained beyond 6 months. Updated results will be presented. All bone-related adverse events reported were grade 1-2 and occurred with similar frequency in EVE (2.9%)- and PBO (3.8%)-treated patients. Conclusions: Exploratory analyses from BOLERO-2 suggest that adding EVE has beneficial effects on bone turnover and BC progression in bone in pts receiving EXE therapy for NSAI-refractory BC.
Phase II randomized trial of toremifene 120 mg compared with exemestane 25 mg after prior nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Authors: Iwase Hirotaka , Yamamoto Yutaka , Ishikawa Takashi , Hozumi Yasuo , Ikeda Masahiko , Iwata Hiroji , Yamashita Hiroko , Toyama Tatsuya , Chishima Takashi , Kimijima Izo , Ibusuki Mutsuko , Saji Shigehira 
Published: February 2017

105 Background: The non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (nsAIs) have been mainly employed as adjuvant therapy or as early recurrent treatment for postmenopausal breast cancer with hormone receptor-positive tumor. When its treatment fails, it is unclear which endocrine therapy including selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), steroidal AI (sAI), or fulvestrant is the most appropriate. Methods: Open labeled multicenter randomized comparative trial of high-dose toremifene for nsAI resistant breast cancer compared to exmestane (Hi-FAIR ex; registry number UMIN000001841) was performed from Nov 2008 to Oct 2011. Toremifene 120 mg (TOR120) or exemestane 25mg (EXE) was administered once daily. The primary end point was clinical benefit rate (CBR). The secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Results: A total of 91 women were randomly assigned to TOR120 (n=46) or EXE (n=45). Two of 46 cases allocated for TOR120 refused this trial before the administration. There was no difference of patients’ characteristics between both groups. In the analysis as of median 16.9 months for an observation period, TOR120 were superior to EXE in CBR (47.5% vs. 26.7%; p=0.046) and in PFS (Hazard ratio; 0.62, 95% CI; 0.38-0.99, p=0.047). There was, however, no statistical differences in ORR (11.6% vs. 2.2%; p=0.065) and in OS (hazard ratio; 0.57, 95% CI; 0.24-1.34, p=0.19). Both treatments were well-tolerated, with no severe adverse events, although 3 of 44 women treated by TOR120 were stopped in a couple of weeks because of nausea and general fatigue which were thought to be early endocrine-related symptoms. Conclusions: Our data suggested that toremifene 120mg, as a following therapy for postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer who have failed non-steroidal AI treatment, could be potentially useful than steroidal AI.
Efficacy and safety of metronomic chemotherapy with all-oral combination of low-dose etoposide/capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and/or taxanes.
Authors: Wei Yan 
Published: February 2017

115 Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of metronomic chemotherapy with all-oral combination of low-dose etoposide/capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) previously treated with anthracyclines and/or taxanes. Methods: From June 2008 to April 2012, 22 women with MBC were enrolled and 16 patients were evaluable for toxicity and response. Treatment consisted of capecitabine (1,400 mg/m2 daily, taken in 2 oral doses) on days 1-14 and oral etoposide ( 30 mg/m2 daily ) on days 1-7 . Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred or patient consent was withdrawn. The primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (CR + PR + SD≥24 weeks); secondary endpoint was toxicity and time to progression (TTP). Tumor response was evaluated by RECIST criteria, and adverse events were evaluated by NCI-CTC AE v3.0. Results: Sixteen patients were included and received 145 cycles of chemotherapy, with a median of 7 cycles (range, 2-26 cycles). One of the 16 patients had partial response (PR 6.25%), 10 showed stable disease (SD 62.5%) and 5 had progression of disease (PD 31.25%), with a clinical benefit rate of 50% (CR + PR + SD≥24 weeks). Median TTP was 5.0 months (range, 1.5-20 months), and mean TTP was 6.06 months. Adverse effects were mild, and the main adverse effects were leucopenia (13%) and fatigue (13%). All patients are survival till now. Conclusions: An all-oral combination of low-dose etoposide plus capecitabine is a new regimen and has showed effective in treating MBC patients and can be well tolerated. It’s very economic compared with most other schedules today. It is worthy of further study on a large scale, especially in the developing countries.
Targeting of endocrine therapy resistance through combined mTOR and histone deacetylase inhibition.
Authors: Ordentlich Peter , McCulloch William , Flechsig Susanne , Hoffmann Jens 
Published: February 2017

130 Background: Primary and acquired resistance to endocrine therapy in advanced breast cancer presents a significant barrier to maximizing the clinical effectiveness of these agents. We recently reported in a randomized, placebo controlled phase II study that entinostat (ENT), a class 1 selective HDAC inhibitor, combined with exemestane extended PFS and OS in postmenopausal women with ER+ positive breast cancer that had progressed on a prior nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Likewise, everolimus (EVE), a mTORi, combined with exemestane or tamoxifen (TAM) also significantly extended PFS in a similar patient population. In order to determine the potential benefit of combining ENT with EVE plus hormone therapy we have piloted a series of xenograft studies in primary human tumor models of TAM sensitivity and resistance. Methods: Athymic nude mice bearing xenografts of tissue derived directly from patient tumors (MaCa4049 – TAM sensitive; MaCa3366/TAM – TAM resistant) were treated with A) vehicle B) 2 mg/kg EVE C) 2 mg/kg EVE + 10 mg/kg TAM D) 15 mg/kg ENT E) 2 mg/kg EVE + 10 mg/kg TAM + 15 mg/kg ENT. Tumor samples taken at the end of the study were cryoconserved for analysis of gene and protein expression and protein phosphorylation. Results: Growth of MaCa4049 tumors was inhibited in all treatment groups relative to vehicle in two independent studies conducted in this tumor model. Groups B, C and D demonstrated a similar level of activity while maximal inhibition was observed in Group E. All treatments were generally well tolerated with weight loss similar in groups C and E. Treatment of MaCa3366/TAM tumors is ongoing with similar levels of tumor growth inhibition in all groups observed relative to vehicle at week 7. Analysis of tumor samples from completed studies will be presented to provide insight into mechanism of action for the enhanced activity observed with the triple combination. Conclusions: Preclinical data demonstrating enhanced activity of entinostat combined with everolimus and hormone therapy provides the rationale for clinical investigation of this novel therapeutic approach to targeting hormone therapy resistance.
Single-institution experience with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for metaplastic breast cancer (MBC).
Authors: Kaminsky Anna 
Published: February 2017

140 Background: Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare subtype that accounts for <1% of all breast carcinomas. MBC is frequently triple-negative and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is often used in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The objective of this analysis is to ascertain response rates of MBC to NAC as compared to non-metaplastic TNBC. Methods: We searched the Magee Women’s Cancer Center of UPMC IRB-approved neo-adjuvant treatment database which contains outcome data on 594 patients treated from 2004-2010. 116 patients with triple negative breast cancer (ER /PR negative or ER /PR weakly positive [H score of 10 or less] and HER2 negative or indeterminate [HER2 1+ or 2+ without amplification by FISH]), were identified. Nine of these TNBCs had metaplastic subtype and two groups were analyzed: metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) (N= 9) and non-metaplastic breast carcinoma (NMBC) (N = 107). Tumor volume reduction (TVR), pathologic complete response (pCR), recurrence and mortality were compared in both groups. Results: Average follow-up in MBC group was 43 months and no patients were lost to follow-up. Average tumor size on presentation in MBC group was 4.47 cm while in NMBC group it was 3.33 cm. pCR was noted in 0/9 MBC and 43/107 NMBC cases (p = 0.0253). 6/9 patients had mastectomy, 2/9 had breast conserving surgery (BCS) and 1/9 patients did not have a surgery yet. Average TVR was 28% in MBC cases compared to 74% in NMBCs when cases with pCR were included (p = 0.0001) and 56% when cases with pCR were excluded (p = 0.0202). Follow up on 9 MBC cases revealed 1 recurrence and subsequent death (11%). Follow-up on 64 NMBC patients who failed to achieve pCR revealed 22 recurrences (34%) and 18 of them subsequently died (28%). Follow-up on 43 NMBC cases that achieved pCR revealed 3 recurrences (7%) and 1 death (2%). Conclusions: MBC was characterized by larger size at baseline as compared to NMBC. There were no pCR’s seen in MBC, but some MBC did achieve response that allowed for breast conservation. Although the average tumor volume reduction was significantly less in MBC compared to NMBC, the NMBC that failed to achieve pCR fared much worse than MBC who did not achieve pCR. Therefore, the triple-negative paradox is likely not applicable to MBC.
The surgeon’s impact on ER status.
Authors: Skinner Kristin A. , Farkas Rachel Leah , Mccarthy Krisitn , Tang Ping , Hellman Leanne , Fronk Jeanette , Andrus Carl H. , Peacock James L. , Hicks David G. 
Published: February 2017

153 Background: Long ischemic times prior to tissue fixation can lower the accuracy of immunohistochemical staining (IHC). The purpose of this study was to identify factors that impact the time to fixation (TTF), and to determine if TTF impacts prognostic factor (PF) patterns and if TTF can be changed with simple interventions. Methods: Surgeries performed between 2008 and June 2011 for which TTF was noted and PF testing was done were reviewed. TTF, patient age and race, surgeon, date and type of surgery, tumor size, nodal status, grade, and status of ER/PR and HER2 by IHC were noted. TTF was dichotomized into > or <60 minutes. In-Services (IS) for pathology and surgical staff were completed. TTF before and after the IS were compared. Associations between TTF and other factors were assessed using standard methods for contingency tables. Predictors of ER status were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Results: Mean TTF was 72 minutes (range 12-445) TTF was significantly associated with surgeon, type of specimen, and ER status (Table). TTF was an independent predictor of ER status by multivariate analysis. TTF was shorter and less variable after IS. Conclusions: TTF varied significantly between surgeons. IS training of the surgeons and OR and pathology staff can decrease TTF. Longer TTF was associated with increased ER negativity, suggesting that longer ischemic time interferes with IHC for ER. If prolonged TTF leads to false negative ER staining, patients may not receive optimal therapies. To minimize this risk, the breast surgeon should take an active role in minimizing the TTF. [Table: see text]