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BackgroundIn patients treated for advanced ovarian cancer not suitable for complete primary surgery, interval surgery after three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been considered standard management since the EORTC randomized trial published in 2010. An alternative approach with delayed surgery after six courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was reported in retrospective series.Primary ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy on progression free survival of interval cytoreduction surgery after three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with delayed surgery after six cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Study HypothesisIn women with ovarian cancer not suitable for primary surgical cytoreduction, surgery after six cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy will prove better disease-free survival than cytoreductive surgery after only three cycles.Trial DesignCHRONO is a multicenter, randomized phase III trial. After three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, eligible patients will be randomized (1:1) to either completion surgery followed by an additional five cycles of chemotherapy (control arm) or an additional three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by completion surgery and then two additional cycles of chemotherapy (experimental arm). Patients in both groups will receive eight total cycles of chemotherapy.Major Inclusion/Exclusion CriteriaThe main inclusion criteria are histologically confirmed epithelial high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer, documented FIGO stage IIIB–IVA unsuitable for complete primary surgery but considered resectable after three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The main exclusion criteria are mucinous, clear cell, carcinosarcoma, or low-grade serous histologies.Primary EndpointThe primary endpoint is progression-free survival.Sample Size210 eligible patientsEstimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting ResultsThe estimated date for completing accrual will be Q2 2023. The estimated date for presentation of the first results is Q3 2028.Trial Registration NumberNCT03579394.

Background : Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy before surgery is the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, the optimal chemotherapy modalities have not been precisely defined to date. Patients and Methods : In the VESPER trial, patients received after randomization either gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC, 4 cycles) or methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (dose dense [dd]-MVAC, 6 cycles). Creatinine clearance (CrCl) was calculated before each cycle according to the Cockroft and Gault formula. Definition criteria for local control after neoadjuvant chemotherapy included pathological complete response (ypT0N0), pathological downstaging ( Results : A total of 2,128 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered, including 2,120 (99.6%) with cisplatin. Full doses of cisplatin were given in 1866 (88%) cycles. Twenty-three (4.7%) patients had to stop chemotherapy (12 GC, 11 dd-MVAC) because of renal failure. No difference in CrCl median values was observed between the two regimens during the first four cycles. A mild decrease occurred thereafter in patients treated with two additional cycles of dd-MVAC. A minimum total dose of 270 mg/m2 for cisplatin was mandatory to optimize pathological complete responses. Conclusion : At least 4 cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy should be delivered before cystectomy. Increasing the number of cycles beyond 4 cycles does not lead to a clinically significant deterioration in renal function but without obvious gain on local control. MicroAbstractCGC : A deep analysis of data from a randomized trial of perioperative chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer shows that a minimum number of 4 cycles is required to optimize the chances of pathological complete response at cystectomy. Increasing the number beyond 4 cycles does not lead to a clinically significant deterioration in renal function without any obvious gain on pathological complete response.

Introduction Brain metastases (BMs) from colorectal cancer (CRC) are rare (≈2%) but are increasing with the improvement of CRC prognosis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of BM from CRC. Materials and methods This multicenter retrospective study included all consecutive patients with BM from CRC diagnosed between 2000 and 2017. Theory/calculation Prognostic factors of OS were evaluated in univariate (log-rank test) and multivariate analyses (Cox regression model). These prognostic factors could help the management of patients with BM from CRC. Results A total of 358 patients were included with a median age of 65.5 years. Primary tumors were mostly located in the rectum (42.4%) or left colon (37.2%) and frequently KRAS-mutated (56.9%). The median time from metastatic CRC diagnosis to BM diagnosis was 18.5 ± 2.5 months. BMs were predominantly single (56.9%) and only supratentorial (54.4%). BM resection was performed in 33.0% of the cases and 73.2% of patients had brain radiotherapy alone or after surgery. Median OS was 5.1 ± 0.3 months. In multivariate analysis, age under 65 years, ECOG performance status 0–1, single BM and less than 3 chemotherapy lines before BM diagnosis were associated with better OS. Prognostic scores, i.e. recursive partitioning analysis (RPA), Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA), Disease Specific-Graded Prognostic Assessment (DS-GPA), Gastro-Intestinal-Graded Prognostic Assessment (GI-GPA) and the nomogram were statistically significantly associated with OS but the most relevant prognosis criteria seemed the ECOG performance status 0–1. Conclusions ECOG performance status, number of BM and number of chemotherapy lines are the most relevant factors in the management of patients with BM from CRC.

International audience; Nivolumab and cabozantinib are approved agents in mRCC patients after sunitinib/pazopanib (TKI) failure. However, the optimal sequence, cabozantinib then nivolumab (CN) or nivolumab then cabozantinib (NC), is still unknown. The CABIR study aimed to identify the optimal sequence between CN and NC after frontline VEGFR-TKI. In this multicenter retrospective study, we collected data from mRCC pts receiving CN or NC, after frontline VEGFR-TKI. A propensity score (PrS) was calculated to manage bias selection, and sequence comparisons were carried out with a cox model on a matched sample 1:1. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) from the start of second line to progression in third line (PFS2-3 ). Key secondary endpoints included overall survival from second line (OS2 ). Out of 139 included mRCC patients, 38 (27%) and 101 (73%) received CN and NC, respectively. Overlap in PrS allowed 1:1 matching for each CN pts, with characteristics well balanced. For both PFS2-3 and OS2 , NC sequence was superior to CN (PFS2-3 : HR = 0.58 [0.34-0.98], P = .043; OS2 : 0.66 [0.42-1.05], P = .080). Superior PFS2-3 was in patients treated between 6 and 18 months with prior VEGFR-TKI (P = .019) and was driven by a higher PFSL3 with cabozantinib when given after nivolumab (P

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and clinical outcome has improved substantially during the last two decades with targeted therapies. The immune system has a major role in cancers, especially the CD8 + T cells specific to tumor antigens. However, tumors can escape immune response by different mechanisms including upregulation of inhibitory immune checkpoint receptors, such as well-known Programmed cell Death protein-1 (PD-1)/Programmed cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction, leading CD8 + T cells to a state of anergy. Immunotherapy, with the so-called immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), has recently been approved in treatment of multiple cancers due to its prolonged disease control and acceptable toxicities. The recent groundbreaking success involving anti-PD-1 CPIs in metastatic CRC with deficient mismatch repair system (dMMR) is promising, with several trials ongoing. Major challenges are ahead in order to determine how, when and for which patients we should use these CPIs in CRC.This review highlights some promises and challenges concerning personalized immunotherapy in CRC. First results and ongoing breakthrough trials are presented. The crucial role of biomarkers in selecting patient is also discussed.As of now, dMMR and POLE mutations (DNA polymerase ε) with ultramutator phenotype are the most powerful predictive biomarkers of CPI efficacy. The most challenging issue is pMMR mCRC and determination of how to convert a 'nonimmunogenic' neoplasm into an 'immunogenic' neoplasm, a combination of CPIs with radiation or MEK inhibitor probably being the most relevant strategy. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays to quantify mutational load could be more reliable predictive biomarkers of CPIs efficacy than PD-L1 expression or immune scores.

Introduction: Metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, a devastating disease, has a median overall survival of only 12–18 months. Treatment options remain scarce. However, eribulin mesylate, a first-in-class halichondrin B-based microtubule dynamics inhibitor, has recently been approved for the management of patients with advanced liposarcoma.Areas covered: Based on a review of the literature between 2005 and 2017, we present a summary of eribulin mesylate’s mechanism of action and the studies showing its clinical efficacy in locally advanced or metastatic sarcomas.Expert commentary: Future development includes the definition of a biomarker signature related to patient outcome with eribulin. Further investigation via controlled clinical trials is needed to identify combination regimens that can optimize the efficacy of eribulin while providing an acceptable safety profile in sarcoma patients.

Desmoplastic small round-cell tumor is a rare but highly aggressive tumor occurring mainly in adolescents and young adults. Prolonged progression-free survival has been documented in patients who have undergone aggressive multimodality therapy - that is, multiagent intensive chemotherapy, debulking surgery, and radiation therapy. Eribulin is a microtubule-dynamics inhibitor, and it has recently been shown to be active in liposarcomas. In preclinical models, eribulin activities have also been shown to occur in Ewing's sarcoma cell lines, rhabdomyosarcomas and osteosarcomas. In this study, we report three cases of male patients suffering from desmoplastic small round-cell tumor and the clinical response to eribulin in two of them.

Management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in cancer patients remains discussed.The objective of this multicenter retrospective study was to investigate the management and outcome of PVT in patients with digestive cancers other than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Main inclusion criteria were trunk or branch PVT in patients with locally advanced or metastatic digestive cancers. Predictive factors of bleeding and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analysis.Between 2012 and 2016, 118 patients with PVT and digestive cancers were identified. The majority had a pancreatic cancer (50%). Sixty-six percent of patients had trunk PVT location. Endoscopic screening of portal hypertension was performed in only 7 patients (1%) and 5 had esophageal varices. Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 22 patients (19%) and 12 patient deaths (17%) were related to a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Metastatic disease (HR=2.83 [95%CI 1.47-5.43], p0.01) and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (HR=1.68 [95%CI 1.01-2.78], p=0.04) were associated with OS in multivariate analysis. Only trunk PVT location was significantly associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage in multivariate analysis (HR=5.56 [95%CI 1.18-26.32], p=0.03).A high rate of variceal bleeding leading to death was found in this cohort. Endoscopic screening and the efficacy of prophylactic treatment of variceal bleeding remain to be evaluated in a prospective study.

Background: Colorectal cancers (CRC) with brain metastases (BM) are scarcely described. The main objective of this study was to determine the molecular profile of CRC with BM. Methods: We included 82 CRC patients with BM. KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and mismatch repair (MMR) status were investigated on primary tumors (n = 82) and BM (n = 38). ALK, ROS1, cMET, HER-2, PD-1, PD-L1, CD3 and CD8 status were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and when recommended, by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: In primary tumors, KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations were observed in 56%, 6%, and 6% of cases, respectively. No ROS1, ALK and cMET rearrangement was detected. Only one tumor presented HER-2 amplification. Molecular profiles were mostly concordant between BM and paired primary tumors, except for 9% of discordances for RAS mutation. CD3, CD8, PD-1 and PD-L1 expressions presented some discordance between primary tumors and BM. In multivariate analysis, multiple BM, lung metastases and PD-L1+ tumor were predictive of poor overall survival. Conclusions: CRCs with BM are associated with high frequency of RAS mutations and significant discordance for RAS mutational status between BM and paired primary tumors. Multiple BM, lung metastases and PD-L1+ have been identified as prognostic factors and can guide therapeutic decisions for CRC patients with BM.

3536 Background: Deficient Mismatch Repair (dMMR) in colorectal cancers (CRC) represent 12% of all tumors. In non-metastatic CRC setting, dMMR are associated with good prognosis but also with resistance to adjuvant 5-FU chemotherapy. In metastatic CRC (mCRC) setting, dMMR is found in less than 5% and its influence on prognosis and treatment response is little known. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included all consecutive patients with dMMR mCRC treated between 2005 and 2015 in 17 centers. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Prognostic variables were evaluated in univariate analysis using the Log rank test and in multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model. Results: A total of 198 patients with dMMR mCRC were included (median age 64.6 years). dMMR mCRC were mostly diagnosed with synchronous metastases (59%) and frequent peritoneal carcinosis (43%). Lynch syndrome was found in 34% of cases and 36% of tumors had a BRAFV600E mutation. Median OS was 20.6 months. A low risk Kohne's prognostic index (HR = 0.40 [0.22-0.72], p = 0.02) and absence of peritoneal carcinosis (HR = 0.51 [0.29-0.90], p = 0.02) were associated with better OS in multivariate analysis. Main first-line regimens were 5FU-based (n = 20), oxaliplatin-based (n = 75) or irinotecan-based (n = 46) chemotherapy. Median PFS on first-line treatment was 5.9 months. The objective response rate (ORR) was 0%, 19% and 36% for 5FU-based, oxaliplatin-based and irinotecan-based chemotherapies, respectively (p = 0.02). A trend for a longer PFS (3.3, 5.5 and 10.2 months, respectively, p = 0.06) and OS (17.7, 21.1 and 34.2 months, respectively, p = 0.05) was also observed for irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy was associated with a significant increase of ORR (p = 0.01) and PFS (p = 0.04) as compared to the addition of an anti-EGFR therapy. Conclusions: This study suggests that dMMR mCRC are associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance, especially to 5FU-based chemotherapy. Efficacy of irinotecan and bevacizumab should be evaluated in a prospective trial in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.