tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Serum multiplex analysis of checkpoint proteins in association with immune-related adverse events in patients with melanoma receiving adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy.
Authors: Andrew David Knight, Sabrina Bruno, Caroline Jane Layding, Hong Wang, Cindy Sander, Walter J Storkus, Lilit Karapetyan, John M. Kirkwood
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

9588 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved melanoma (MEL) patient (PT) outcomes. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) may cause significant morbidity, rarely including death. Soluble immune checkpoints have been identified as biomarkers of autoimmune activity and potential off-target pathology. Understanding their relationship to pathologic outcomes may assist in the identification of PTs at highest risk of irAEs. Methods: PTs with resectable stage IIB-IV MEL who received adjuvant anti-programmed-death-1 (PD-1) therapy were identified from the University of Pittsburgh’s MEL Center biospecimen repository (N=273). MILLIPLEX Human Immuno-Oncology Checkpoint Protein Panel 2 was used to study serum levels of immunomodulatory proteins. Mean pretreatment serum levels in PTs with and without irAEs were compared using a two-sample t-test after performing Box-Cox transformation for non-normally distributed data. Results: Sera from 43 PTs were analyzed. The cohort included 28 (65.1%) male, mean age at diagnosis (62), including MEL stage IIIA = 7 (16.3%), IIIB = 16(37.2%) and IIIC = 20(46.5%). The most common irAEs (n=24, 55.8%) were thyroiditis (n=9, 20.9%), dermatitis (n=8, 18.6%), and adrenal insufficiency (n=9, 21.0%). Multiple irAEs were observed amongst 22 (51.2%) PTs with ≥3 irAEs and 6 (13.9%) with 5 irAEs. Visceral irAEs included Hepatitis (n=3, 7.0%), pneumonitis (n=2, 4.7%), and colitis (n=5, 11.6%). Seven of 8 patients with visceral irAEs required corticosteroids. Siglec-7 (mean 23.4 vs 3.51 pg/mL, p=0.018) and siglec-9 (mean 77.0 vs 33.1 pg/mL, p=0.049) were significantly elevated in the PTs who developed any irAE. After stratifying for each individual irAE, PTs with thyroiditis had elevated Nectin-4 (mean 2785.5 vs 494.7 pg/mL, p&lt;0.001) and serum arginase (mean 2437.5 vs 1383.1 pg/mL, p= 0.046) was elevated in PTs who developed colitis. PTs with hepatitis demonstrated increased galectin-3 (mean 10103.9 vs 9915.3 pg/mL, p=0.045) and decreased levels of CD40L (mean 2869.2 vs 9496.9 pg/mL, p=0.033). In PTs with dermatitis B7-H3 (mean 2503.3 vs 732.4 pg/mL, p=0.009) and MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (mean 1598.0 vs 259.1 pg/mL, p=0.048) were elevated. Conclusions: We have demonstrated unique serum checkpoint protein profiles related to specific irAEs in melanoma patients receiving adjuvant anti-PD1. Further studies are warranted to confirm and validate the utility of these irAE predictors during adjuvant anti-PD-1.
Community oncology preparedness and perceptions of challenges in care with HER2/HER3 therapy for NSCLC.
Authors: Tariqa Ackbarali, Karine Cohen-Solal, Lyudmila Bazhenova, Pasi A. Janne
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e21010 Background: The rapid pace of advances in molecular testing and targeted treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can make it difficult to stay up to date with new developments. Accelerating the integration of practice-changing data requires clarification of actionable vs non-actionable mutations, relevance for therapeutic decisions, and treatment options for patients. To address this need further an educational program was designed in 2023. Methods: A one-hour online, video-based program was designed for clinicians and their teams and hosted on OMedLive from February 2023. Knowledge and competence questions were administered pre-, and immediate post-activity. and the intersection of patient and clinician perspectives, including behavioral impact, and qualitative insights. Behavioral impact, perception, and practice pattern questions were also assessed immediately post-activity. Results: More than 1,700 participants have engaged in the educational program to date. Of the participants in the clinician program, 94% were physicians and 93% noted their specialty as oncology with 67% identifying as treaters seeing an average of 8 patients with NSCLC on a monthly basis. Low baseline (8% - 40%) knowledge and competence was observed for awareness of NGS-based approaches to detect ERBB2 mutations, trial eligibility criteria and outcomes, time to onset of drug-related toxicities, and ability to identify patients who would benefit from clinical trials with HER3 investigational therapies. Only 28% were confident in their ability to appropriately test for HER2 mutational status and 47% likely to incorporate testing for HER2 expression level or amplification prior to the selection of targeted therapy. The greatest challenges in managing patients with HER2-mutated NSCLC was identified as managing side effects (33%), affordability of therapy for patients (27%), and adherence to treatment schedules (17%). Conclusions: The outcomes of this educational program demonstrate a need for greater alignment and education among pathology and oncology team members on HER2 testing for patients with NSCLC. Additional education is needed relevant to investigational HER3 therapeutics, the appropriate patient to receive these therapies, and the potential application within the current treatment landscape. As these agents deepen their impact in the NSCLC landscape, it is important to prepare teams for timely management of adverse events.
Examining the risk of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity among patients with melanoma and their history of cannabis use.
Authors: Imtisaal Waris, Rahul Raiker, Nanda Siva, Sanya Goswami, Haig Pakhchanian, Amir Shahzad Kamran
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e21539 Background: With cannabis use rising due to better availability for recreational and medicinal uses, there is a need for studies examining cannabinoids interactions. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors have been increasing in popularity among metastatic cancer patients like those with melanoma. The biological impact of cannabis is mediated in part by the CB1 and CB2 receptors present in the endocannabinoid system that is present in the immune system. ICI therapy also targets the immune system through manipulating PD-1/PD-L1 receptors to induce cancer cell death. Therefore, concurrent cannabis use with ICI therapy could have potentiating effects on toxicities and negatively impact efficacy. There is limited information in the literature examining this and therefore the goal was to examine the impact of ICI toxicity risk among melanoma patients on any form of ICI therapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using TriNetX, a multicenter database comprised of ~100 million patients across 84 healthcare organizations. Adults ( &gt; 17 years) from 2012-2023 were identified based on ICI-therapy initiation within 1 month of malignant melanoma diagnosis. Patients were then stratified by history of those with and without cannabis use disorder. ICI toxicity categories were determined a priori and included cardiac, nephrological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, respiratory, ocular, hematological, hepatological, musculoskeletal, and neurological toxicities. 1:1 propensity score matching was conducted to control for comorbidities and demographics. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% CI were calculated at 1-year follow-up after therapy initiation for ICI toxicities between the cohorts. aHR was estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total 14589 melanoma patients who underwent ICI therapy were identified where 2.3% had history of cannabis use. Matching revealed two balanced cohorts of 344 patients. Melanoma patients with a history of cannabis use did not have any significant differences with controls for cardiotoxicity (aHR[95%CI] = 0.94[0.54,1.6]), Nephrotoxicity (0.86[0.51,1.5]), GI toxicity (1.44[0.95,2.2]), endocrine toxicity (1.2[0.82,1.8]), respiratory toxicity (0.93[0.55,1.6]), ocular toxicity (0.63[0.25,1.6]), hematologic toxicity (1.04[0.7,1.6]), neurotoxicity (1.04[0.6,1.7]), liver toxicity (1.41[0.78,2.5]), or musculoskeletal toxicity (1.53[0.62,3.8]). Conclusions: With cannabis use rising due in part to recreational use and in part to medical marijuana, the implications of use must be a topic of research. Cannabis use among melanoma patients did not provide any significant differences in risk of developing ICI-therapy-related toxicities. Additional studies are needed to validate this finding.
Analysis of neoadjuvant nivolumab and ipilimumab for clinical stage III melanoma using the SWOG S1801 event-free survival definition.
Authors: Milton Jose De Barros E Silva, Monique Celeste Tavares, Joao Paulo S. N. Lima, Daniel Garcia, Andre Molina, Matheus Lobo, Clovis Antonio Lopes Pinto, Rafaela Brito De Paula, Jose Augusto Rinck Jr, João Pedreira Duprat Neto
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e21563 Background: Perioperative pembrolizumab to advanced melanoma, as shown SWOG S1801 trial, was associated with a longer event-free survival (EFS) than those who received adjuvant pembrolizumab (EFS at 2y: 72% vs 49%, respectively). EFS, as defined in this trial, encompasses important factors related to neoadjuvant therapy in clinical practice. So far, there is no data of EFS rate for melanoma patients(pts.) treated with neoadjuvant nivolumab and ipilimumab, which is associated with more response rate but also more toxicity. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pts. with clinical stage III melanoma treated with neoadjuvant nivolumab 3mg/kg + ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (N3+I1) for two cycles followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy at AC Camargo Cancer Center. We applied the SWOG S1801 EFS definition (which includes inability to receive surgery, to start adjuvant therapy, melanoma recurrence and death) to this cohort. Results: Between Jan 2019 and Jan 2024, 37 pts. with clinical stage III melanoma treated with neoadjuvant N3+I1 were identified. Gender: 25 males (67%), median age (years): 58 (range: 31-78), BRAFV600 mut: 25(67%), Stage AJCC 8 th edition: IIIB = 23 (62%), IIIC = 12 (32%), IIID = 2(6%). G3/G4 immune-related adverse events (irAE): 11 patients (30%). Two out 37 pts. did not complete the programmed neoadjuvant cycles due to toxicity (1 = colitis, 1 = myositis). Three pts. (8%) were unable to receive surgery: irAE = 1, metastatic disease = 2. All pts. who underwent surgery (n = 35) achieved R0 resection and started adjuvant therapy within 84-days after the procedure. Major pathological response (MPR) = 23 pts(66%) and non-MPR = 12 pts.(34%). There were 4 melanoma relapses after starting adjuvant therapy (11%). The total number of events was 7 (19%). In a median follow-up of 16.1 months(range:13.9-25), the landmark analysis of EFS at 2 years was 73% (95%CI, 49 to 87). Relapse-free survival(RFS) for MPR at 2 years: 96%. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant N3+I1 seems to have similar EFS compared to SWOG S1801, but numerically more MPR rate and fewer events of progression, relapse and/or death. [Table: see text]
Unleashing deep features and radiomics to enhance best overall response prediction to immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Authors: Gemma Urbanos, Ana Jiménez Pastor, Jose Lozano-Montoya, Fuensanta Bellvís Bataller, Glen J. Weiss, Angel Alberich-Bayarri
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e20611 Background: Predicting immunotherapy response in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through non-invasive means could be a groundbreaking advancement. Deep features extracted from medical images by deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) along with radiomics have demonstrated promising results in different oncologic diseases. However, the method for extracting these deep features influences the predictive capabilities of the model. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a multicenter study was conducted in advanced NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression with the aim of developing an imaging features-based model for the prediction of best overall response (BOR) to a checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. All visible lung lesions, beyond RECIST 1.1, were manually segmented in baseline CT scans. Radiomics features were extracted at lesion-level, and various preprocessing methods and CNN architectures were tested for deep features extraction. Radiomics and deep features were harmonized using ComBat methodology. A distinctive feature signature was created for each patient by calculating the mean across all lesions. Using this data, machine learning models were trained to predict treatment response, specifically distinguishing between complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) from stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). The study compared the performance of different deep features extraction methods and assessed shapley additive explanations (SHAP) values of radiomics for interpretability. Results: In the cohort of 116 patients (mean age: 67, 93% ever-smokers, 73% male), 1024 to 5475 quantitative imaging features per lesion were extracted. Among these patients, 67 patients were CR+PR, and 49 were SD+PD. The top-performing predictive model, trained with radiomics and deep features from a deep convolutional autoencoder, achieved an average AUC of 85%. SHAP values showed that impactful radiomics features were correlated with intensity changes in adjacent pixels describing the tumor heterogeneity, along with shape features potentially associated with malignancy. Ultimately, combining both features demonstrated statistical significance, leading to a performance improvement of ~2-5% compared to models exclusively using deep features. Conclusions: Diverse techniques for extracting deep features were evaluated, revealing autoencoder training as the most effective strategy for predicting immunotherapy response. Consequently, the findings suggest that employing deep learning to extract imaging features from baseline CT scans, combined with radiomics, represents a promising non-invasive approach for the predicting immunotherapy outcomes in advanced NSCLC patients.
A single-arm phase II study of platinum doublet induction chemotherapy combined with toripalimab for driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC.
Authors: Jinghui Lin, Zhiyong He, Meifang Li, Shijie Chen, Lihong Weng
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e20565 Background: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with platinum doublet chemotherapy have become the standard first-line treatment for driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, not all patients can benefit from this treatment. Previous studies have shown that induction chemotherapy can reduce tumor burden, induce tumor immunogenic cell death, and improve the tumor immune microenvironment. Therefore, effective induction chemotherapy may enhance the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. This single-arm, phase II clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy (Toripalimab: PD-1 inhibitor) in treatment of driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC. Methods: Eligible patients received platinum doublet chemotherapy for 2-4 cycles (pemetrexed + platinum for adenocarcinoma; paclitaxel or gemcitabine + platinum for squamous cell carcinoma). patients who achieved tumor response (CR/PR/SD) received Toripalimab (240mg Q3W) for 2 years or until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), which was defined as the duration from the initiation of induced chemotherapy to either tumor progression or death from any cause,and the secondary endpoints were toxicity, overall survival (OS), and clinical tumor response including objective response (defined as complete [CR] or partial response [PR]) and disease control (defined as CR, PR, or stable disease [SD]) during the course of combination treatment with Toripalimab following induction chemotherapy. Results: During the period from February 2020 through October 2023, a total of 19 qualified patients were enrolled in the study. As of December 31. 2023,the median follow-up was 22,9 months (range,15.9 to 30 months).11 patients (57.9%) experienced PFS events and 7 (36.8%) died, mOS were not reached. mPFS was 7.9 mo (95% CI,4.8-15.0months).12-month and 18-month PFS rate were 43% and 35%, respectively. One patient has not received tumor response assessment. Among the remaining 18 pts, 10 patients had a PR,5 patients had SD, and 3 patients had PD. The ORR and DCR were 55.6% and 83.3% respectively.42.1% (8/19) pts experienced immune-related adverse events(irAEs), included immune-related pneumonia (21.1%), rash (10.5%), hypothyroidism (10.5%). 2 pts experienced ≥3 grade irAEs, including grade 3 rash and grade 4 immune-related thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Induction chemotherapy combined with Toripalimab achieved impressive 12-month and 18-month PFS rates in pts with driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC, along with manageable toxicities. These findings demonstrate the potential of induction chemotherapy could enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04613804 .
Analysis of the LIPI score as a prognostic factor in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Authors: Eduardo Richardet, Pablo Perea, Matias Molina, Ignacio Magi, Santos Depetris, Martin Eduardo Richardet
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

e20612 Background: A field of interest is the search for new biomarkers within which inflammatory/immunological ones have taken on special relevance. The LIPI Score (Lung Immune Prognostic Index) that combines derived Neutrophil -Lymphocyte Ratio (dNRL) and LDH shows growing evidence in favor of its use. End Point: Primary: Evaluate the relationship of LIPI Score with Progression Free Survival (PFS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy (IO) alone or in combinationwtih Chemotherapy(CT) in the first line. Secondary: Evaluate the relationship of the LIPI Score and Objective Response Rate (ORR) and the relationship of the LIPI Score and PFS at 6 months. Methods: Metastatic NSCLC , treated first-line with IO alone or in combination between January 2018 and July 2023 at our institution, were included . The LIPI Score has 3 prognosis categories: Good (RNLd &amp;lt; 3 and LDH &amp;lt; upper limit of normal (ULN) ); Intermediate (RNLd &amp;gt; 3 or LDH &amp;gt; upper limit of normal (ULN), Poor (RNLd &amp;gt; 3 and LDH &amp;gt; upper limit of normal (ULN) Results: 67 patients were analyzed, the overall PFS was 8.58 months. Of these, 22 had a good LIPI Score, 24 had an intermediate LIPI Score and 21 had a poor LIPI Score. The PFS per group was 21.56, 8.71 and 3.18 months respectively (p &amp;lt; 0.01). The ORR was 27% in the general population and by groups: 45%, 29%, 5% respectively (p = 0.01). The 6-month PFS was 86%, 83% and 29%, respectively, by subgroup. Conclusions: We consider that the LIPI Score is a very useful tool due to its simplicity, low cost and accessibility that allows us to understand the behavior of the disease in our patients early. It is necessary to continue researching to determine what is the best therapeutic strategy for these patients based on their prognosis.
Melphalan/hepatic delivery system versus best available care in patients with unresectable metastatic uveal melanoma: Randomized FOCUS trial results.
Authors: Jonathan S. Zager, Marlana M. Orloff, Pier Francesco Ferrucci, Junsung Choi, David J. Eschelman, Evan Scott Glazer, Aslam Ejaz, Erika Richtig, Sebastian Ochsenreither, Sunil A. Reddy, Michael C. Lowe, Georgia Beasley, Anja Heike Gesierich, Martin Gschnell, Reinhard Dummer, Ana Maria Arance, Stephen William Fenwick, Johnny John, Matthew Wheater, Christian H.H Ottensmeier
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

9556 Background: Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) has a poor prognosis, with liver metastases typically presenting a therapeutic challenge. Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System (melphalan/HDS) is a drug/medical device combination used for liver-directed treatment of unresectable mUM patients. The purpose of the FOCUS study, an open label, multicenter randomized Phase 3 study, was to assess efficacy and safety of melphalan/HDS versus best alternative care (BAC). Methods: Eligible patients with unresectable mUM were randomized 1:1 to treatment with melphalan/HDS (3.0 mg/kg ideal body weight) once every 6-8 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles or BAC. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The planned study size was 240 patients; due to slow enrollment and patient reluctance to receive BAC treatment, the study design was amended to a single-arm melphalan/HDS study, and all efficacy analyses of the randomized study were treated as exploratory. Results: From February 2016 to October 2018 a total of 129 patients were screened and 85 were enrolled at 22 centers in the US and Europe; eligible patients were randomized to receive melphalan/HDS (N=43) or BAC (N=42) and 72 patients received study treatment. Exploratory analyses of efficacy endpoints showed numerical differences consistently favoring the melphalan/HDS arm vs. BAC (median OS: 18.5 vs 14.5 months; median progression free survival: 9.1 vs 3.3 months; objective response rate: 27.5% vs 9.4%; and disease control rate: 80.0% vs 46.9%). Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 51.2% of melphalan/HDS and in 21.9% of BAC patients. Most common (&gt;5%) SAEs included thrombocytopenia (19.5%), and neutropenia (9.8%), leukopenia (9.8%) and febrile neutropenia (7.3%) in melphalan/HDS patients and cholecystitis, nausea and vomiting (6.3% each) in BAC patients. No treatment-related deaths were observed. Conclusions: Treatment with melphalan/HDS shows clinically meaningful efficacy and demonstrates a favorable benefit-risk profile in patients with unresectable mUM as compared to best alternative care. Clinical trial information: NCT02678572 .
Using serial 18F-FDG PET/CT PERCIST response to predict responses to immune check point inhibitors in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Authors: Rahul Ladwa, Sarrinder Kenyon, Gillian Jagger, Margaret Louise McGrath, Claire Cuscaden
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024)

9548 Background: The role of serial 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging in predicting long term efficacy of PD-1 targeted immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is unknown. This study aims to correlate PET PERCIST response with time to progressive disease. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective study of patients treated with ICI for advanced cSCC who had baseline and serial FDG-PET/CT within 4-months of commencement of ICI. PERCST 1.0 was calculated by two radiologists independently and classified into complete metabolic response (CMR), partial metabolic response (PMR), stable metabolic disease (SMD), and progressive metabolic disease (PMD). The primary endpoint was time to progression from commencement of ICI. Progression was determined by a multidisciplinary team combining clinical and radiological assessments. Results: Of the 242 patients treated with ICI for advanced cSCC during 2018-2023, 83 (34%) patients had a serial FDG PET. Of these, 53 patients met the inclusion criteria of ≤4-months from ICI to second PET. CMR (54.7%), PMR (15.1%), SMD (11.3%) and PMD (18.9%) were seen as initial responses by PERCST 1.0. With a median follow-up of 8-months (1-55), progressive disease as determined by the multidisciplinary team was observed in 11 patients (21%). For these 11 patients, the 4-month PERCST 1.0 response was measured as CMR (n=1), PMR (N=1), SMD (N=2) and PMD (N=7). The median TTP was significantly higher in CMR/ PMR vs SMD/PMD (55 vs 4-Months, P&lt;0.001). At data cut off, 94.6% (N=35) of patients with a 4-month PET PERCST 1.0 CMR/ PMR assessment did not progress clinically. Clinical response was maintained at a minimum of 12-months in 94.7% (n=18) of those responding. Conclusions: Rate of CMR and PMR in advanced cSCC is high with ICI. Early PET CMR/ PMR appears to predict long term durable responses. Incorporation of PET/CT into the assessment of response in cSCC may help guide treatment decisions by early identification of those patients not responding to ICI.