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Background: There is ongoing controversy regarding the outcome of COVID-19 in cancer patients This is one of few registries on the impact of COVID-19 in cancer patients in a country severly affected by the pandemic Methods: This cohort study is collecting data on symptomatic Sars-CoV-2 infected patients with a cancer diagnosis from 23 Swiss sites, starting March 1, 2020 The main objective of the study is to assess the outcome of COVID-19 infection in patients with solid and hematological malignancies, while the main secondary objective is to define prognostic factors of COVID-19 outcome Results: With a cutoff date of July 16, 2020, 357 patients with a diagnosis of cancer and symptomatic COVID-19 were included into this first analysis The most frequent malignancies were breast in 63 cases (18%), lung in 40 cases (11%), prostate cancer in 24 cases (7%) and myeloma in 16 cases (5%), with 104 (38%) patients having non-curative disease Anticancer treatment within 3 months prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19 included chemotherapy in 65 patients (18%), targeted therapy in 54 patients (15%), steroids in 39 (11%), checkpoint inhibitors in 22 (6%) or no anticancer treatment in 155 patients (43%) 230 patients (65%) were hospitalized for COVID-19 or were already in hospital;167 of the hospitalized patients (73%) required oxygen treatment, 43 patients (19%) intensive care, 31 (14%) invasive ventilation 63 patients died from COVID-19 infection, resulting in a mortality rate of 18% Significant risk factors for death included age ≥65 versus

Background The outcome for patients with unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is poor. Following failure from first-line doxorubicin based chemotherapy no standard therapy has been established. Combination treatment with docetaxel/gemcitabine (gem) has emerged as an effective regimen but administration is limited to fit patients only due to the toxicity profile. Nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel (nab-PC) was invented for avoidance of the toxicities related to polyethylated castor oil. In this context, we want to evaluate toxicity and antitumor effect of biweekly nab-PC 150mg/m2 / gem 1000mg/m2 administration in STS patients. Methods We conducted this proof-of-concept phase I trial to assess the safety of biweekly nab-PC/gem administration in the 2nd and 3rd line setting of STS. Results As of 1 April 2019, 6 pts were treated within the phase I. Three pts were male (50%); median age was 67 yrs (range 44 – 72). The current total number of biweekly doses received is 29 (median biweekly doses per patient is 5, range 2 – 7). One dose reduction due to skin toxicity occurred. 3 pts remain on study, 3 stopped treatment due to treatment unrelated reasons (refusal, death unrelated to progression or toxicity and investigator’s decision). The most common treatment-emergent AEs Gr1-2 were fatigue (3 pts), alopecia (3 pts), and neutropenia (2 pts). There were no dose-limiting toxicities or discontinuations due to AEs. We were able to confirm the tolerability of the regimen and are currently accruing patients to a prospective single arm phase II trial. Treatment will be given biweekly until progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient withdrawal. The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free rate (PFR) at 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints are PFS, overall survival and symptom-specific quality of life. A total of 8 Swiss sites will participate for a total of 37 patients, as required by Simon’s two-stage design. Conclusions These preliminary results indicate that biweekly administration of nab-PC/gem was well tolerated. The phase I established dose and schedule were selected for further evaluation in phase II trial. Clinical trial identification NCT03524898. Editorial acknowledgement Celgene Corporation. Legal entity responsible for the study Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK). Funding Swiss League Against Cancer, Celgene. Disclosure A. Digklia: Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Amgen, PharmaMar, Servier, BMS; Research grant / Funding (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Research Funding Recipient Institution. C. Britschgi: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche, Pfizer,takeda,AstraZeneca. Y. Metaxas: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Merck-Serono, BMS. F. Krasniqi: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche Pharma (Schweiz) AG, Mundipharma Medical Company (Schweiz), Celgene GmbH. A. Stathis: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Abvie, PharmaMar; Research grant / Funding (institution): Amgen, Bayer, Novartis, Roche, MEI-Pharma. T. Rordorf: Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck KGaA. N. Mach: Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Pharma Mar, as well as honorarium for talks in a company’s organised public event from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharma Mar. C.A. Rothermundt: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS, Astellas Pharma Schweiz, GSK, Novartis, Roche, Pfizer, PharmaMar; Research grant / Funding (institution): Research Funding Recipient Institution. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer with a worldwide increasing incidence due to the use of asbestos. MPM is incurable despite the use of multimodality treatment. Tumor spread confined to the thoracic cavity is a hallmark of MPM, providing a rational for local treatment. We developed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting FAP (fibroblast activating protein), a cell-surface antigen that we have shown to be highly expressed in epithelial cancers. Methods Using a Δ-CD28-costimulated CAR, we initiated a phase I clinical trial (NCT01722149) to determine the safety and persistence of intra-pleural administered anti-FAP-CAR T cells in the periphery. A single dose of 1x 106 re-directed T cells was administered through a pleural catheter. Patients were monitored on an intensive care unit for 48h. Clinical evaluations of on-target and off-tumor toxicity were assessed for 3 months. Laboratory analyses included cytokines, CRP and the detection of CAR-T cells in the pleural effusion and blood over time. Radiological evaluation with PET-CT scans was performed as standard of care. Results Three patients with metastatic MPM were treated (all patients received at least two cycles of chemotherapy previous to CAR T-cell administration). No CAR T-cell-related toxicities were observed. Intense monitoring for cytokine release syndrome showed significant changes on a subset of cytokines. CAR T-cells were detected in the peripheral blood after treatment. Activity of the patient’s redirected T cells was confirmed in vitro. Furthermore, one patient received an anti-PD1 checkpoint blockade antibody 8 months after CAR T-cell instillation with no toxicity. With a median follow-up of 18 months, 2 out of 3 patients are alive. Conclusions In this phase I clinical trial, intra-pleural administration of anti-FAP CAR T-cells was well tolerated without any evidence of treatment related toxicity. Persistence of CAR T-cells was documented in the periphery. Clinical trial identification NCT01722149. Legal entity responsible for the study Unviersity Hospital Zurich. Funding Swiss Cancer League. Disclosure A. Curioni: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck Sharp and Dohme; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pfizer ; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Takeda . C. Britschgi: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda. W. Weder: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Medtronic. R.A. Stahel: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AbbVie; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution), Officer / Board of Directors: F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Sharp and Dohme; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Officer / Board of Directors: Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.