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Background Long-term data with immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited. Two phase III trials demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and a favorable safety profile with the anti-programmed death-1 antibody nivolumab versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated advanced squamous (CheckMate 017) and nonsquamous (CheckMate 057) NSCLC. We report results from ≥3 years’ follow-up, including subgroup analyses of patients with liver metastases, who historically have poorer prognosis among patients with NSCLC. Patients and methods Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) until progression or discontinuation. The primary end point of each study was OS. Patients with baseline liver metastases were pooled across studies by treatment for subgroup analyses. Results After 40.3 months’ minimum follow-up in CheckMate 017 and 057, nivolumab continued to show an OS benefit versus docetaxel: estimated 3-year OS rates were 17% [95% confidence interval (CI), 14% to 21%] versus 8% (95% CI, 6% to 11%) in the pooled population with squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC. Nivolumab was generally well tolerated, with no new safety concerns identified. Of 854 randomized patients across both studies, 193 had baseline liver metastases. Nivolumab resulted in improved OS compared with docetaxel in patients with liver metastases (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50–0.91), consistent with findings from the overall pooled study population (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61–0.81). Rates of treatment-related hepatic adverse events (primarily grade 1–2 liver enzyme elevations) were slightly higher in nivolumab-treated patients with liver metastases (10%) than in the overall pooled population (6%). Conclusions After 3 years’ minimum follow-up, nivolumab continued to demonstrate an OS benefit versus docetaxel in patients with advanced NSCLC. Similarly, nivolumab demonstrated an OS benefit versus docetaxel in patients with liver metastases, and remained well tolerated. Clinical trial registration CheckMate 017: NCT01642004; CheckMate 057: NCT01673867.

Background: The identification of targetable alterations in cancer continues to offer novel opportunities to the drug discovery process. However, pre-clinical testing often requires solubilization of these drugs in cosolvents like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Using commercially available models commonly used for in vitro drug screening and pre-clinical testing, we explored the DMSO off-target effects on functional signaling networks, drug targets, and downstream substrates. Materials and Methods: Eight commercially available Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cell lines were incubated with three ultra-low concentrations of DMSO (0.0008%, 0.002%, and 0.004% v/v, respectively) for 5 min, as well as 1, 6 and 24 hours. Following incubation, expression and activation levels of 183 proteins were captured using Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) technology, of which 134 were kinases and downstream substrates. Results: The DMSO effect was heterogenous across cell lines and varied based on multiple factors including: concentration, exposure time, and cell line. Of the 183 proteins measured, 88% were statistically significant at the highest DMSO concentration, followed by 81% and 67% at lower concentrations. Only 28 proteins were found statistically different in more than 5 cell lines indicating heterogenous response across models. pERK 1/2 T202/Y204 emerged as the most frequently affected node along with stress-induced response and mitogenic proteins. These cell line specific DMSO-induced alterations, may modulate response to targeted agents and chemotherapeutics. Conclusions: Ultra-low DMSO concentrations have broad and heterogenous effects on targetable signaling proteins which are model, time, and concentration dependent. As such, off-target effects need to be carefully evaluated in the design and implementation of pre-clinical drug screening and testing. Citation Format: Elisa Baldelli, Mahalakshmi Subramanian, Abduljalil M. Alsubaie, Sara Baglivo, K A. Hodge, Fortunato Bianconi, Vienna Ludovini, Lucio Crino', Emanuel F. Petricoin, Mariaelena Pierobon. Off-target effects of ultra-low dose dimethyl sulfoxide on targetable signaling events in lung cancer in vitro models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1993.

Background Lorlatinib, an ALK/ROS1 inhibitor, showed activity in ROS1+ NSCLC pretreated with crizotinib. However, molecular events predictive for tumor response during lorlatinib treatment are largely unknown. Methods The PFROST trial included ROS1+ NSCLCs refractory to crizotinib. Eligible patients received lorlatinib 100 mg daily until disease progression. Primary end point was response rate (RR). For all patients, pre-lorlatinib tumor tissue or blood sample collection was mandatory. At lorlatinib failure liquid biopsy was recommended. The samples were then run with the NEOliquid assay, specifically designed for liquid biopsies, or NEOselect, a panel optimized for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue, covering 39 cancer related genes. Results From June 2017 to April 2019, 22 ROS1+ crizotinib refractory lung adenocarcinoma patients were included in 10 Institutions. Median age was 56 years (range 39-82); male/female: 8/14; ECOG PS 0 (N = 8; 36.4%), PS1 (N = 14; 63,6%); The majority had brain metastases at baseline (N = 15; 68.1%), were never smokers (N = 13; 59.1%) and received lorlatinib as third-line therapy (N = 16; 72.7%). In all cases crizotinib was the last therapy before lorlatinib. Accrual is completed and 13 patients are still receiving therapy. A total of 18 patients were evaluable for response and 7 had confirmed complete (N = 1) or partial (N = 6) responses for an overall RR of 38.8%. In 4 patients, response to therapy was not yet evaluated. A total of 10 tissue biopsies and 20 blood samples obtained after crizotinib and before lorlatinib therapy were collected. For 7 samples analyses are ongoing. Among responders, no patient harbored a secondary ROS1 mutation. Conversely, no response was observed among patients with secondary ROS1 mutations (N = 1 ROS1S1861I, N = 1 ROS1 V2054A, N = 3 ROS1G2032R). All patients harboring the ROS1G2032R mutation rapidly progressed and maintained this aberration in liquid biopsy at the time of of lorlatinib failure. Conclusions In our study lorlatinib confirmed its efficacy in crizotinib resistant ROS1+ NSCLC. Molecular profile of refractory patients suggests reduced efficacy in individuals harbouring crizotinib-induced secondary ROS1 mutations. Clinical trial identification EudraCT Number: 2016-001259-34. Legal entity responsible for the study Fondazione Ricerca Traslazionale. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure L. Landi: Advisory / Consultancy: Pzifer; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim. M. Tiseo: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Otsuka; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pierre Fabre. D.L. Cortinovis: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Amgen. A. Delmonte: Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim. D. Galetta: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Boehringer Ingelheim. R. Chiari: Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Takeda; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Novartis. L. Crino: Advisory / Consultancy: AbbVie; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca. F. Cappuzzo: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Boehringer Ingelheim. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background: Agents targeting programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) are showing promising results in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is unknown whether PD-1/PD-L1 are differently expressed in oncogene-addicted NSCLC. Methods: We analysed a cohort of 125 NSCLC patients, including 56 EGFR mutated, 29 KRAS mutated, 10 ALK translocated and 30 EGFR/KRAS/ALK wild type. PD-L1 and PD-1 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry. All cases with moderate or strong staining (2+/3+) in >5% of tumour cells were considered as positive. Results: PD-1 positive (+) was significantly associated with current smoking status (P=0.02) and with the presence of KRAS mutations (P=0.006), whereas PD-L1+ was significantly associated to adenocarcinoma histology (P=0.005) and with presence of EGFR mutations (P=0.001). In patients treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (N=95), sensitivity to gefitinib or erlotinib was higher in PD-L1+ vs PD-L1 negative in terms of the response rate (RR: P=0.01) time to progression (TTP: P

Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients carrying epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs); nonetheless, about 20% of patients show primary resistance to TKIs. We previously demonstrated the association between TP53 mutations and primary resistance to first-line TKIs in EGFR-mutated adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients. Here we analyze a validation case series of ADC patients treated with first-line TKIs to confirm our previous data, and we assess the association between TP53 status and the prognosis of ADC patients treated with third generation TKIs. Methods We considered 136 ADC EGFR-mutated patients treated with a TKI in the first-line setting. Also, we analyzed 42 patients who developed T790M mutation and were treated with a third generation TKI in second- or further line setting. EGFR and TP53 mutation analyses were performed by Sanger Sequencing or Next Generation Sequencing methodologies. TP53 mutations were evaluated in relation to disease control rate (DCR: complete response [CR], partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]), objective response rate (ORR: CR, PR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Of 136 patients, we found 42 (31%) TP53 mutations: 12 mutations in exon 5 (28.6%), 6 in exon 6 (14.3%), 13 in exon 7 (30.9%), and 11 in exon 8 (26.2%). DCR and ORR were 31.8% and 32.5% in TP3-mutated patients with respect to 68.6% and 67.4% in TP53 wild-type (wt) patients, respectively. Exon 8 TP53-mutated patients had a worse PFS with respect to TP53 wt patients (HR 3.19 [1.62-6.27], p = 0.001), but not OS. Moreover, we assessed TP53 status in 42 patients who developed a T790M mutation and received a third generation TKI in second or additional lines of treatment. In 30 patients with evaluable clinical response, DCR and ORR were 62.5% and 25% in TP53 mutated patients, with respect to 77.2% and 54.5% in the TP53 wt patients, respectively. Data analyses of PFS and OS are ongoing. Conclusions EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with concomitant TP53 mutations had a worse clinical response to first-, second-, and third generation TKIs, administrated in any line of treatment. Legal entity responsible for the study Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), an anti-mitotic, regional treatment approved for glioblastoma utilizes low intensity, alternating electric fields delivered non-invasively to the tumor using a portable medical device. In-vitro, human mesothelioma cells were highly susceptible to TTFields. Methods: The trial accrued 80 patients with unresectable, previously untreated mesothelioma. Patients were treated with continuous 150 kHz TTFields (>18h/day) in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin. Inclusion criteria included ECOG PS of 0-1 and pathologically proven mesothelioma. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). A visual analog scale was used to assess EOCG performance status and cancer-related pain assessed until disease progression. The sample size provided 80% power with two-sided alpha of 0.05 to detect an increase in median OS of 5.5 months compared to historical controls (Vogelzang, JCO 2003). Results: All 80 patients had a minimum follow up of 12 months. Median age was 67 (range 27-78), 84% were male and 44% (35 patients) had an ECOG PS of 1. 66% (53 patients) had epithelioid histology, similar to the Vogelzang study. Median OS was 18.2 months (95% CI 12.1-25.8) versus 12.1 months in the historical control. Median OS for epithelioid patients was 21.2 months (95% CI 13.2-25.8). ECOG score was stable during the first year of follow up. Median time to deterioration in performance status was 13.1 months. Average score of pain was lower compared to baseline during the first 7 months of the treatment and was higher later on the study, with a median time to a clinical significant 33% increase in pain of 8.4 months. No device-related serious adverse events (AEs) were reported. Expected TTFields-related dermatitis was reported in 46% (37 patients). Four patients (5%) had grade 3 dermatitis. Conclusions: The study met primary endpoint of significant extension of overall survival in previously untreated mesothelioma patients. TTFields was not associated with a decrease in performance status or an increase in pain for the duration of TTFields use. TTFields in combination with chemotherapy is efficacious in malignant pleural mesothelioma compared to historical data.

Tumor-related angiogenesis is a complex process resulting from a delicate balance between pro and anti-angiogenic factors. Bevacizumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), was the first anti-angiogenic therapy to prove effective, in combination with chemotherapy, for treatment of several types of advanced cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) included. However, as for other types of solid malignancy, no predictive biomarkers of increased sensitivity to bevacizumab or any other anti-angiogenic drugs could be identified in NSCLC, which has had a negative affect on the cost-effectiveness of the targeted therapy performed to block the VEGF pathway. In this review we discuss the most relevant findings from clinical and correlative studies investigating the use of anti-angiogenic therapy for advanced NSCLC, focusing on the need to identify biomarkers for selection of patients suitable for anti-angiogenic therapy.

Background Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor. Severe pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) is a rare but serious potential adverse event associated with bevacizumab therapy for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A panel of expert oncologists, pulmonologists and radiologists reviewed the available data to identify predictive factors for PH in order to help guide physicians using bevacizumab in patients with NSCLC. Results Patients with NSCLC are at an increased risk of PH owing to the underlying disease process. Patients with squamous histology and/or a history of grade ≥2 haemoptysis (≥2.5 ml per event) should not receive bevacizumab. No clinical or radiological features (including cavitation and central tumour location) reliably predict severe PH in bevacizumab-treated patients. Major blood vessel infiltration and bronchial vessel infiltration, encasement and abutting may predict PH; however, standardised radiological criteria for defining infiltration have not been established. Eligibility for bevacizumab is not affected by patient age, performance status or anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Conclusions An individualised risk–benefit assessment should be undertaken in all patients with NSCLC in whom bevacizumab is being considered. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying PH and the clinical risk factors.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, characterizing ~80% of lung cancer diagnoses. Thus, the development of novel therapies for NSCLC is of primary importance in oncology. The aim of this study was to develop a novel cancer systems biology approach to understand the complex interactions in NSCLC and predict the response to target treatments. We combined proteomic experimental data with a machine learning tool to discover the diverse signaling networks of both KRAS mutant (MUT) and wild-type (WT) NSCLC cell lines (CL). Material and Methods: Eight NSCLC CL (5 KRAS MUT and 3 KRAS WT) were subjected to reverse phase protein microarray (RPPA) to explore the activation level of 183 proteins treated with selumetinib (SE) and its combination with everolimus (EV) or tamoxifen (TA). Measures were taken at 6 time points: 5 minutes (min), 1, 2 , 6 and 24 hours (h). RPPA was performed also on the baseline and on CL with only dimethyl sulfoxide. Recursive Feature Elimination with Support Vector Machine (RFE-SVM) was used to identify the subset of proteins/features that optimally separated samples in 2 groups. In order to build the interaction network from this subset and browse the main pathways involved, we used Reactome FI and the Pathway Enrichment tool, two Cytoscape plugins for network-based data analysis. Results: We applied RFE-SVM to discover the most divergent proteins between control and treated samples in the whole CL panel. For all the 3 drug combinations, the network in output contained not only the target of the corresponding drug, but also showed the activation of other parallel pathways. The analysis revealed also that all drugs were mainly effective in a short time, since the number of significant proteins was considerably higher at 5 min and 1 h. For instance, SE treatment activated NGFR, mTOR, PI3K-Akt and proteoglycans pathways in addition to the MAPK pathway. Network at 1 h contained 25 proteins linked by 76 interactions, while at 6 and 24 h the distinctive subsets of features included only 2 and 4 proteins. Then, we applied RFE-SVM to analyze KRAS MUT vs WT CLs. The algorithm showed that treated KRAS MUT CL had a more complex signaling network than the WT ones. Indeed, in SE WT samples MER and ERK were the main relevant proteins to distinguish from the control. In treated KRAS MUT samples, a complex network of 70 proteins and 278 interactions was active during the first hour. Conclusion: The proposed framework processes high-throughput data and identifies new possible molecular targets in cancer research. This approach is highly flexible for a multitude of data and purposes. We applied it to a RPPA dataset of NSCLC CL and it revealed that all drug combinations had fast dynamics and that KRAS MUT CL had a more complicated response due to a higher number of active pathways. Citation Format: Chiara Antonini, Lorenzo Tomassoni, Elisa Baldelli, Vienna Ludovini, Sara Baglivo, Mariaelena Pierobon, Emanuel F Petricoin, Lucio Crinò, Paolo Valigi, Fortunato Bianconi. Dynamic network topologies analysis in proteomics data of NSCLC cell lines using a new pipeline based on machine learning tools [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2254.

Background Treatment options are scarce in pretreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. RAD001, an oral inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), has shown phase I efficacy in NSCLC. Methods Stage IIIb or IV NSCLC patients, with two or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens, one platinum based (stratum 1) or both chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (stratum 2), received RAD001 10 mg/day until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary objective was overall response rate (ORR). Analyses of markers associated with the mTOR pathway were carried out on archival tumor from a subgroup using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and direct mutation sequencing. Results Eighty-five patients were enrolled, 42 in stratum 1 and 43 in stratum. ORR was 4.7% (7.1% stratum 1; 2.3% stratum 2). Overall disease control rate was 47.1%. Median progression-free survivals (PFSs) were 2.6 (stratum 1) and 2.7 months (stratum 2). Common ≥grade 3 events were fatigue, dyspnea, stomatitis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Pneumonitis, probably or possibly related, mainly grade 1/2, occurred in 25%. Cox regression analysis of IHC scores found that only phospho AKT (pAKT) was a significant independent predictor of worse PFS. Conclusions RAD001 10 mg/day was well tolerated, showing modest clinical activity in pretreated NSCLC. Evaluation of RAD001 plus standard therapy for metastatic NSCLC continues.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGFR-1) represents a novel molecular target in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). IGFR-1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is essential to mediate tumor cell survival, proliferation and invasion. We explored the correlation between IGFR-1 and EGFR, their relationship with clinicopathological parameters and their impact on outcome in resected stage I–III NSCLC patients. Patients and methods: Tumors from 125 surgical NSCLC patients were evaluated for IGFR-1 and EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan–Meier estimates of survival and time to recurrence were calculated for clinical variables and biologic markers using the Cox model for multivariate analysis. Results: IGFR-1 protein overexpression was detected in 36.0% of NSCLC patients and was associated with larger tumor size (P = 0.04) but not with other clinical or biological characteristics. EGFR protein overexpression was observed in 55.2% of NSCLC, more frequently in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than non-SCC (63.7% versus 36.3%, v 2 = 9.8, P = 0.001). IGFR-1 protein expression was associated with EGFR protein expression (P = 0.03). At the multivariate analysis, high coexpression of both IGFR-1 and EGFR was a significant prognostic factor of worse disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio 2.51, P = 0.01). Conclusion: A statistically significant association was observed between high coexpression of both IGFR-1 and EGFR and worse DFS in early NSCLC patients.

Background We explored the correlation between serum human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) extracellular domain (ECD) and tissue HER2 status, their relationship with clinicopathological parameters and their impact on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival in early breast cancer patients. Patients and methods This prospective trial included patients with stage I–III breast cancer. Serum HER2 ECD levels were measured by two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays before surgical treatment. Tissue HER2 status was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all tumors; FISH assay was utilized in HER2 2+ tumors by IHC. Results From May 2000 to July 2005, 256 consecutive stage I–III breast cancer patients were included in this study. High serum HER2 ECD levels (≥15 ng/ml) were reported in 23 patients (9.0%) and HER2-positive status in tumor tissue was observed in 42 patients (16.4%) with a concordance of 87.1%. High HER2 ECD levels were significantly associated with high histological grade (P = 0.003), stage III (P = 0.008), lymph node involvment (P = 0.035) and negativity of both estrogen (P = 0.016) and progesterone (P = 0.007) receptors. At multivariate analysis, high serum HER2 ECD levels were a significant independent prognostic factor of worse DFS (P = 0.009). Conclusions A statistically significant association was observed between high serum HER2 ECD levels and worse DFS in early breast cancer patients.

Advances in the knowledge of tumor biology and mechanisms of oncogenesis has granted the singling out of several molecular targets for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Among these targets, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), or HER1, has received particular attention in lung cancer treatment. Erlotinib, an orally available inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase in a phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial (BR.21), has been proven to prolong survival in NSCLC patients after first or second line chemotherapy. Skin rash is the most common adverse event associated with erlotinib treatment and it is often cause of negative impact on patients' quality of life. There is no specific treatment for this toxicity due to the lack of evidence-based data and recommendations. A panel of Italian oncologists, who had participated to clinical trials and to the Expanded Access Program for erlotinib in NSCLC treatment, and dermatologists with experience with cutaneous toxicity from EGFR inhibitors, attended a Meeting held in Rome on December 2006 to discuss skin rash from erlotinib and to provide suggestions for managing this frequent side-effect.

Background: Selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY-142886)+docetaxel increases median overall survival (OS) and significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) compared with docetaxel alone in patients with KRAS mutant, stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; NCT00890825). Methods: Retrospective analysis of OS, PFS, ORR and change in tumour size at week 6 for different sub-populations of KRAS codon mutations. Results: In patients receiving selumetinib+docetaxel and harbouring KRAS G12C or G12V mutations there were trends towards greater improvement in OS, PFS and ORR compared with other KRAS mutations. Conclusion: Different KRAS mutations in NSCLC may influence selumetinib/docetaxel sensitivity.

This phase II study evaluated the response rate and tolerability of gemcitabine-oxaliplatin chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Chemonaive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC received gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 8, followed by oxaliplatin 130 mg m(-2) on day 1. Cycles were repeated every 21 days for up to six cycles. From February 2002 to May 2004, 60 patients were enrolled into the study in seven Italian institutions. We observed one complete response (1.7%) and 14 partial responses (23.3%), for an overall response rate of 25.0% (95% confidence interval, 14.7-37.9%). The median duration of response was 5.9 months (range 1.5-17.1 months). With a median follow-up of 6.7 months, median time to progressive disease and overall survival were 2.7 (range 1.9-3.4 months) and 7.3 months (range 7.2-8.6 months), respectively. The main grade 3-4 haematological toxicities were transient neutropenia in 11.7% and thrombocytopenia in 8.3% of the patients. Nausea/vomiting was the main grade 3-4 nonhaematological toxicity, occurring in 10.0% of the patients. Two (3.3%) patients developed grade 3 neurotoxicity. Our results show that gemcitabine-oxaliplatin chemotherapy is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced NSCLC, deserving further study, especially for patients not eligible to receive cisplatin.

Background: Brain metastases are a common occurrence in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is the standard therapy; more aggressive approaches such as surgery or radiosurgery are indicated in a subset of patients only. The role of systemic treatments remains controversial. Gefitinib is an oral, highly tolerable, specific inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, which has shown activity in chemotherapy pretreated NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and safety of gefitinib in NSCLC patients with brain metastases. Patients and methods: From January 2001 to May 2003, 41 consecutive NSCLC patients with measurable brain metastases were treated with gefitinib, given orally at daily dose of 250 mg. Thirty-seven patients had received previous chemotherapy and 18 patients had been treated previously with WBRT, completed at least 3 months before entering the trial. Results: A partial response (PR) was observed in four patients (10%), with stable disease (SD) in seven cases, for an overall disease control (DC) rate (DC = PR+SD) of 27% (95% confidence interval 13% to 40%). Median duration of PR was 13.5 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) of the whole population was 3 months. DC rate was higher in patients pre-treated with WBRT (P = 0.05) and with adenocarcinoma histological type (P = 0.08); adenocarcinoma patients had also a longer PFS (P = 0.04). Toxicity was mild and consisted of grade 1/2 skin toxicity and diarrhoea, occurring in 24% and 10% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Gefitinib can be active on brain disease in NSCLC patients. Since the results of standard therapy for brain metastases in this clinical setting are particularly disappointing, gefitinib

Synergism between anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) and paclitaxel has been shown in vitro and in vivo. In previous experiences, weekly administration of trastuzumab and paclitaxel has shown significant activity in metastatic breast cancer. In this phase II study, we evaluated the activity and the toxicity of this weekly regimen in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Between November 1999 and July 2001, 25 patients were treated with trastuzumab (4 mg kg(-1) i.v. loading dose followed by 2 mg kg(-1) i.v. week(-1)) and paclitaxel (60-90 mg m(-2) h(-1) i.v. infusion week(-1)). The treatment was planned to continue until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity; in patients with responsive or stable disease, after 6 months of therapy, the decision to stop paclitaxel while continuing weekly trastuzumab was left to the physicians' judgement. At the median follow-up of 19.6 months (range 9.2-38.1), all patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. We obtained four (16%) complete responses (CR), 10 (40%) partial responses (PR), four (16%) stable diseases and seven (28%) disease progressions. The response rate (CR+PR) was 56% (95% CI, 36.5-75.5%). The median duration of response was 10.4 months (range 4.1-24.2+). Median time to progression was 8.6 months (range 2.5-24.2+). The toxicity was mild; five patients experienced fever and chills during the first infusion of trastuzumab (20%); leukopenia grade 2 was recorded in one patient (4%). Two patients (8%) came off study for grade 3 cardiotoxicity (after 9 and 17 weeks of treatment, respectively): both had already received anthracyclines and taxanes. Onycholysis grade 2 was observed in five patients (20%). These results confirm that weekly administration of trastuzumab and paclitaxel is active in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients HER2-overexpressing. Since cardiac disfunctions grade 3 were observed (8%), we recommend that cardiac function should be monitored in these patients.

To complement the existing treatment guidelines for all tumour types, ESMO organises consensus conferences to focus on specific issues in each type of tumour. The 2nd ESMO Consensus Conference on Lung Cancer was held on 11-12 May 2013 in Lugano. A total of 35 experts met to address several questions on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in each of four areas: pathology and molecular biomarkers, first-line/second and further lines in advanced disease, early-stage disease and locally advanced disease. For each question, recommendations were made including reference to the grade of recommendation and level of evidence. This consensus paper focuses on early-stage disease.

BACKGROUND Crizotinib is approved to treat advanced ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but most patients ultimately develop progressive disease (PD). We investigated whether continuing ALK inhibition with crizotinib beyond PD (CBPD) is clinically beneficial and attempted to identify clinicopathologic characteristics associated with patients who experience clinical benefit. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC enrolled in two ongoing multicenter, single-arm trials who developed RECIST-defined PD were allowed to continue crizotinib if they were deriving ongoing clinical benefit. In the present retrospective analysis, continuation of CBPD was defined as >3 weeks of crizotinib treatment after PD documentation. Patients who had PD as best response to initial crizotinib treatment were excluded. Baseline and post-progression characteristics, sites of PD, and overall survival (OS) were compared in patients who continued CBPD versus those who did not. The impact of continuing CBPD on OS after adjusting for potential confounding factors was assessed. RESULTS Among 194 crizotinib-treated patients with RECIST-defined PD, 120 (62%) continued CBPD. A significantly higher proportion of patients who continued CBPD than patients who did not had an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0/1 at PD (96% versus 82%; P=0.02). CBPD patients had significantly longer OS from the time of PD [median 16.4 versus 3.9 months; hazards ratio (HR) 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17-0.42; P