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Supplementary Figures 1 and 2 from Immunologic and Clinical Responses after Vaccinations with Peptide-Pulsed Dendritic Cells in Metastatic Renal Cancer Patients

A phase I trial was conducted to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a dendritic cell–based vaccination in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Autologous mature dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes were pulsed with the HLA-A2-binding MUC1 peptides (M1.1 and M1.2). For the activation of CD4+ T-helper lymphocytes, dendritic cells were further incubated with the PAN-DR-binding peptide PADRE. Dendritic cell vaccinations were done s.c. every 2 weeks for four times and repeated monthly until tumor progression. After five dendritic cell injections, patients additionally received three injections weekly of low-dose interleukin-2 (1 million IE/m2). The induction of vaccine-induced T-cell responses was monitored using enzyme-linked immunospot and Cr release assays. Twenty patients were included. The treatment was well tolerated with no severe side effects. In six patients, regression of the metastatic sites was induced after vaccinations with three patients achieving an objective response (one complete response, two partial responses, two mixed responses, and one stable disease). Additional four patients were stable during the treatment for up to 14 months. MUC1 peptide–specific T-cell responses in vivo were detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the six patients with objective responses. Interestingly, in patients responding to the treatment, T-cell responses to antigens not used for vaccinations, such as adipophilin, telomerase, or oncofetal antigen, could be detected, indicating that epitope spreading might occur. This study shows that MUC1 peptide–pulsed dendritic cells can induce clinical and immunologic responses in patients with metastatic RCC. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(11): 5910-8)

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers, with comparatively poor outcomes despite the use of multiagent conventional chemotherapy regimens. Real-world data from clinical practice are still rare but are the basis for understanding and improving the current standard of care. Materials & methods: In this multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 24 office-based oncology practices in Germany, the authors documented 1786 pancreatic cancer patients who received systemic treatment between April 2017 and June 2021. Results: The authors' analysis showed that results from recent clinical studies are promptly incorporated into practice. Conclusion: It was striking that, during the analyzed period, the use of platinum-based therapy regimens in adjuvant and palliative first-line therapy increased predominantly in younger patients (

Few data exist on health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) receiving first-line chemotherapy (Awad L ZE, Mesbah M Boston, MA. Applying survival data methodology to analyze quality of life data, in Mesbah M, Cole BF, Ting Lee M-L (eds): Statistical Methods for Quality of Life Studies: Design, Measurements and Analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002). The QOLIXANE study is a prospective, noninterventional, multicenter substudy of the Platform for Outcome, Quality of Life and Translational Research on Pancreatic Cancer (PARAGON) registry, which evaluated QoL in patients with mPC receiving first-line gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy in real-life setting. QoL was prospectively measured via EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires at baseline and every month thereafter. Therapy and efficacy parameters were prospectively collected. Main objectives were the rate of patients without deterioration of Global Health Status/QoL (GHS/QoL) at 3 and 6 months. Six hundred patients were enrolled in 95 German study sites. Median progression-free survival was 5.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2-6.3). Median overall survival (OS) was 8.9 months (95% CI, 7.9-10.2), while median time to deterioration of GHS/QoL was 4.7 months (95% CI, 4.0-5.6). With a baseline GHS/QoL score of 46 (SD, 22.8), baseline QoL of the patients was severely impaired, in most cases due to loss in role functioning and fatigue. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, 61% and 41% of patients had maintained GHS/QoL after 3 and 6 months, respectively. However, in the QoL response analysis, 35% and 19% of patients had maintained (improved or stable) GHS/QoL after 3 and 6 months, respectively, while 14% and 9% had deteriorated GHS/QoL with the remaining patients being nonevaluable. In the Cox regression analysis, GHS/QoL scores strongly predicted survival with a hazard ratio of 0.86 (P < .0001). Patients with mPC have poor QoL at baseline that deteriorates within a median of 4.7 months. Treatment with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel is associated with maintained QoL in relevant proportions of patients. However, overall, results remain poor, reflecting the aggressive nature of the disease.

34 Background: BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is associated with a poor prognosis and limited clinical data. Based on results from the BEACON CRC trial, targeted treatment with encorafenib plus cetuximab (E+C) is available as a standard of care for these patients (pts) after prior systemic therapy. Since data from controlled clinical trials are based on a selected patient population, the non-interventional study (NIS) BERING CRC observes a broader patient population in clinical practice. Methods: BERING CRC is the first NIS investigating the use of E+C in clinical practice of BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC treatment after prior systemic therapy in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. For the present analysis, disease characteristics and treatment data of the initial 81 pts were documented in 44 sites across Germany and Austria between 09/2020 and 04/2022. BERING-CRC is ongoing and aims to enroll up to 300 pts from 126 German, Austrian, and Swiss sites. The study observes pts treated according to the approved respective Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). The primary endpoint is the 1-year overall survival rate. Secondary endpoints include efficacy, QoL, and tolerability of E+C. Results: 81 pts were included in this baseline analysis. Median age was 67 years (range 34-88) and 48% were female. 48 pts (59%) were documented with right-sided tumors and for 62% stage IV disease was noted at initial diagnosis. In the metastatic setting, main sites of metastasis were liver, peritoneum, and lung (52%, 32%, and 22% of pts, respectively), with 16% of pts having ≥ 3 sites documented. For 30% of pts, an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0 was documented at baseline assessment (57% ECOG PS 1 or 2). Adjuvant treatment was reported for 22 pts while relapse ≤ 6 months was documented for 10 of them. Consistent with BEACON CRC, adjuvant systemic therapy with relapse within ≤6 months was counted as metastatic 1st line treatment. 91% of pts with adjuvant treatment received chemotherapy alone in this setting. 4 pts (5%) were documented with E+C treatment directly following adjuvant therapy and 55% of all pts with documented first-line treatment (69 pts) received chemotherapy alone (CT), for 35% chemotherapy was combined with targeted therapy (CT+TT), 3% received immunotherapy, and 1% received TT alone. In second-line, 71% of pts with documented treatment received E+C (7% CT, 16% CT+TT). An initial bi-weekly cetuximab dosing was reported for 10% of pts treated with E+C. Conclusions: While the high number of pts with right-sided tumors was in line with previous findings on BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC pts, synchronous metastasis was reported considerably more often in this real-world cohort. As complementation to previous controlled clinical trial data, pts enrolled in BERING-CRC were notably older and presented with higher ECOG PS compared to the pivotal study. Clinical trial information: NCT04673955 .

Few data exist on health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) receiving first-line chemotherapy (Awad L ZE, Mesbah M Boston, MA. Applying survival data methodology to analyze quality of life data, in Mesbah M, Cole BF, Ting Lee M-L (eds): Statistical Methods for Quality of Life Studies: Design, Measurements and Analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002). The QOLIXANE study is a prospective, noninterventional, multicenter substudy of the Platform for Outcome, Quality of Life and Translational Research on Pancreatic Cancer (PARAGON) registry, which evaluated QoL in patients with mPC receiving first-line gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy in real-life setting. QoL was prospectively measured via EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires at baseline and every month thereafter. Therapy and efficacy parameters were prospectively collected. Main objectives were the rate of patients without deterioration of Global Health Status/QoL (GHS/QoL) at 3 and 6 months. Six hundred patients were enrolled in 95 German study sites. Median progression-free survival was 5.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2-6.3). Median overall survival (OS) was 8.9 months (95% CI, 7.9-10.2), while median time to deterioration of GHS/QoL was 4.7 months (95% CI, 4.0-5.6). With a baseline GHS/QoL score of 46 (SD, 22.8), baseline QoL of the patients was severely impaired, in most cases due to loss in role functioning and fatigue. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, 61% and 41% of patients had maintained GHS/QoL after 3 and 6 months, respectively. However, in the QoL response analysis, 35% and 19% of patients had maintained (improved or stable) GHS/QoL after 3 and 6 months, respectively, while 14% and 9% had deteriorated GHS/QoL with the remaining patients being nonevaluable. In the Cox regression analysis, GHS/QoL scores strongly predicted survival with a hazard ratio of 0.86 (P .0001). Patients with mPC have poor QoL at baseline that deteriorates within a median of 4.7 months. Treatment with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel is associated with maintained QoL in relevant proportions of patients. However, overall, results remain poor, reflecting the aggressive nature of the disease.

Background: The effects of intravenous immunoglobulin G substitution on health status and infections of patients suffering from immunoglobulin G (IgG) deficiencies should be evaluated in a prospective analysis.Methods: Patients with symptomatic primary or secondary IgG deficiencies were interviewed prior to the first IgG infusion (t0) and over the course of their treatment. The respondents rated their current health using a 100-point scale (EQ-5D-5L), ranging from 0 ('worst imaginable health') to 100 ('best imaginable health'). The patients also provided information on the frequency of infections and infections requiring antibiotics in the past 8 weeks. A control group (CG) without oncologic diseases answered the questions on an one-off basis.Results: 106 patients with a median age of 65 years (21-85 years) were investigated. The median serum IgG-concentration changed from 500 mg/dl (t0) to 772 mg/dl (t6). The mean number of infections and of infections requiring antibiotics decreased during IgG substitution significantly. The EQ-5D-5L health status improved from 57 (t0) to 68 (t6), compared to 73 in the CG.Conclusion: During the course of IgG substitution patients reported fewer and less severe infections. Their health status improved but still was inferior to the healthy CG.Previous presentationData were presented in part at the annual meeting of the German, Austrian and Swiss Societies of Hematology and Medical Oncology in Vienna, Austria, 2018.

Cetuximab-induced skin rash Gd3+ occurs in ≥16% patients (pts) (Heinemann et al., Lancet Oncol 15(10):1065–1075, 2014; Van Cutsem et al. J Clin Oncol 27(19):3117–25; 2009b). Survival, response, and toxicity parameters were re-evaluated under a pre-defined skin prophylaxis consistent of vitamin K1 ointment and oral doxycycline. This is a national, multicenter, phase 4, first-line mCRC (K-RAS wt) trial. Pts received irinotecan 180 mg/m² (d1), FA 400 mg/m² (d1), 5-FU 400 mg/m² (d1), 5-FU 2400 mg/m² (d1–2), and cetuximab [400 mg/m² (d1), and then 250 mg/m² qw], prophylactic 0.1% vitamin K1 ointment qd, and oral doxycycline 100 mg bid. Primary objective: 1-year PFS rate; secondary objectives: skin side-effects (grade, onset), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) time, and overall survival (OS) time and safety. Twenty centers recruited 55 patients. Recruitment started Q1 2011 and ended Q3 2013 due to slow accrual. Characteristics were in line with CRYSTAL trial except for age and colonic location. 1-year PFS rate was 25.9%, mOS 21.8 months (m), and mPFS 8.5 m. ORR was 63.0%, DCR 77.8%. Rash Gd2+ occurred in 42.6% [median onset was 4.0 weeks (w)]; paronychia Gd2+ occurred in 22.2% (median onset 15.4w.); skin fissures Gd2+ occurred in 31.5% (median onset 19.9 weeks) 7% pts abandoned cetuximab treatment due to toxicity. Our data reveal encouraging improvements in skin reactions and their time to occurrence due to a pre-defined skin care.

Background Involuntary weight loss (IWL) is frequent in advanced cancer patients causing compromised anticancer treatment outcomes and function. Cancer cachexia is influenced by nutrition impact symptoms (NIS). The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of NIS in advanced patients and to assess specific interventions guided by a 12‐item NIS checklist. Methods Consecutive patients from an outpatient nutrition‐fatigue clinic completed the NIS checklist. The NIS checklist was developed based on literature review and multiprofessional clinical expert consensus. Chart review was performed to detect defined NIS typical interventions. Oncology outpatients not seen in the nutrition‐fatigue clinic were matched for age, sex, and tumor to serve as controls. Results In 52 nutrition‐fatigue clinic patients, a mixed cancer population [IWL in 2 months 5.96 % (mean)], the five most frequent NIS were taste and smell alterations 27 %, constipation 19 %, abdominal pain 14 %, dysphagia 12 %, and epigastric pain 10 %. A statistically significant difference for NIS typical interventions in patients with taste and smell alterations (p = 0.04), constipation (p = 0.01), pain (p = 0.0001), and fatigue (p = 0.0004) were found compared to the control population [mixed cancer, 3.53 % IWL in 2 months (mean)]. Conclusion NIS are common in advanced cancer patients. The NIS checklist can guide therapeutic nutrition‐targeted interventions. The awareness for NIS will likely evoke more research in assessment, impact, and treatment. © 2013 The Authors. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License

Tissue factor (TF) expressed on sub-cellular membrane vesicles, so-called plasma microparticles (MPs), has recently emerged as a potential key player in intravascular coagulation activation in various disease states. In this report, we demonstrate significantly increased levels of TF-specific procoagulant activity (PCA) of plasma MPs in five patients presenting with overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to an underlying malignancy, including non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 1), melanoma (n = 1), prostate cancer (n = 2), and acute promyelocytic leukemia (n = 1). Clotting experiments on available tumor cell samples suggested that cancer cells were a potential source of circulating TF-positive MPs at least in three of the five patients. Furthermore, follow-up plasma samples from two surviving patients revealed that response of their malignancies to specific anti-cancer therapy was paralleled by resolution of overt DIC and a significant decline in MP-associated TF PCA. Levels of plasma TF antigen, as assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were also increased at presentation albeit to a lesser extent compared to MP-associated TF PCA, likely due to insufficient solubilization of the phospholipid-incorporated full-length TF molecule by the detergent. In summary, our findings suggest that MP-associated TF PCA may play an important pathogenic role in the evolution of overt DIC in various types of malignancy.

A phase I trial was conducted to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a dendritic cell–based vaccination in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Autologous mature dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes were pulsed with the HLA-A2-binding MUC1 peptides (M1.1 and M1.2). For the activation of CD4+ T-helper lymphocytes, dendritic cells were further incubated with the PAN-DR-binding peptide PADRE. Dendritic cell vaccinations were done s.c. every 2 weeks for four times and repeated monthly until tumor progression. After five dendritic cell injections, patients additionally received three injections weekly of low-dose interleukin-2 (1 million IE/m2). The induction of vaccine-induced T-cell responses was monitored using enzyme-linked immunospot and Cr release assays. Twenty patients were included. The treatment was well tolerated with no severe side effects. In six patients, regression of the metastatic sites was induced after vaccinations with three patients achieving an objective response (one complete response, two partial responses, two mixed responses, and one stable disease). Additional four patients were stable during the treatment for up to 14 months. MUC1 peptide–specific T-cell responses in vivo were detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the six patients with objective responses. Interestingly, in patients responding to the treatment, T-cell responses to antigens not used for vaccinations, such as adipophilin, telomerase, or oncofetal antigen, could be detected, indicating that epitope spreading might occur. This study shows that MUC1 peptide–pulsed dendritic cells can induce clinical and immunologic responses in patients with metastatic RCC. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(11): 5910-8)

e20724 Background: Anti-EGFR empowered chemotherapeutic regimens resulted in increased overall survival (OS) and response rates (RR). Anti-EGFR induced skin rash occurs in ~ 70% patients, and ~18% ...

Background: The use of in vitro transcribed RNA isolated from tumor cells or coding for defined tumor associated antigens was shown to be a very powerfull method to generate antigen specific T cells upon transfection into dendritic cells (DC). More recently it was demonstrated in a mouse model that application of RNA intra dermaly can elicit both, CD8 and CD4 mediated immune responses. Furthermore, in Her-2-neu transgenic mice vaccinations with naked RNA were able to elicit a specific immune response in vivo and delay the development of breast cancer in treated animals. Based on these results we analyzed the clinical and immunological responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) vaccinated with mRNA encoding for tumor associated antigens (TAA) using two different treatment arms. Methods: In vitro transcribed RNA was generated using plasmids coding for the tumor antigens MUC1, CEA, Her-2/neu, telomerase, survivin and MAGE-1. RNA coding for HbsAg and Influenza matrix protein were included as controls. Vaccinations were performed intradermally on day 1,14, 28 and 42 in a first group of patients and on day 0–3, 7–10, 28 and 42 in a second group (intensified arm). Vaccinations were repeated afterwards monthly until tumor progression. One day after each RNA injection patients additionally received 1 injection of GM-CSF (250 μg) sc. The enhancement of T cell precursor was monitored using IFN-g ELISPOT and tetramer staining.. Results: 25 patients were included in this study. In 3 patients regression of metastases was induced and 6 patients had a stabilization of the disease. Specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses in vivo were detected in the first analyzed patients. The treatment was well tolerated with no severe side effects. In most cases erythema and induration were observed after injections of GM-CSF. One patient developed an allergic exanthema after GM-CSF application. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that intradermal RNA-vaccination can be effective in the treatment of metastatic RCC and induces clinical and immunological responses.