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C. Gridelli



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    MS05 - Modern Management of Neuroendocrine Tumours (ID 22)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Mini Symposia
    • Track: Surgery
    • Presentations: 1
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      MS05.3 - Mediastinal Neuroendocrine Tumours (ID 478)

      14:45 - 15:05  |  Author(s): C. Gridelli

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Abstract
      INTRODUCTION Mediastinal Neuroendocrine Tumors occur most frequently in the thymus. Primary Thymic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) are rare and highly aggressive neoplasms; a little more than 350 cases have been described in the literature, many of which are single case reports. We collected one of the largest series ever reported through a multicenter International study, with the aim to evaluate factors influencing survival and recurrence development in patients with Thymic NETs. MATERIAL AND METHODS A multicenter retrospective study of patients operated for NETs between 1989 and 2012 in 9 high-volume International Thoracic Surgery Institutions, was conducted. According to the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group (ITMIG) outcome measures, primary and secondary outcome were Cause Specific Survival (CSS) and Disease Free Survival (DFS). Competing-risks regression models (Fine and Gray method), taking into account death by any causes as competing event, were used to identify the association between individual factors and tumor related death. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to define association between individual factors and DFS, considering R0 cases only. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed. RESULTS There were 52 patients (41 males –79%-, median age 49 years). The tumor was asymptomatic in 22 cases (42%). Endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes were observed in 23 cases (44%): 13 Cushing’s syndrome and 10 MEN-1 syndrome. Well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (Typical and Atypical Carcinoid) was the commonest histological subtype (30 cases –58%-). Eight patients (15%) received induction therapy (3 chemotherapy, 2 chemo+radiotherapy, 2 biological therapy and 1 chemo+radio+biological therapy), because of their radiological invasiveness. Median sternotomy was the commonest surgical approach (29 cases). The median tumor size was 8 cm (range 1 – 31 cm); a complete resection (R0) was achieved in 48 cases (92%). Advanced Masaoka-Koga stage (III-IV) was observed in 35 patients (67%). Postoperative treatment was offered to 26 (50%): radiotherapy in 17, chemotherapy in 1, chemo+radiotherapy in 5 and chemo+radio+biological therapy in 3 patient, respectively. Three, 5 and 10-year survival rates were 89%, 76% and 51% (Figure 1). Recurrences were observed in 32 cases (62%): 11 local, 10 intrathoracic and 11 distant. Cumulative incidence of recurrence was 41% at 2 years and 70% at 3 years (Figure 2). Variables influencing survival were: tumor size (p< 0.00) and recurrences (p=0.01). Independents DFS predictors were: age > 50 (p= 0.02), paraneoplastic syndromes (p=0.02), symptoms at presentation (p= 0.01) and poor differentiated histology (p= 0.04). CONCLUSIONS We have confirmed that Thymic NETs are rare mediastinal tumors presenting with an aggressive biological behavior; surgery remains the mainstay of treatment and it should be proposed whenever possible, even in case of advanced diseases. Recurrences are frequent, especially in the first years after operation. Survival is statistically related to the tumor size and to the presence of recurrences, whereas, surprisingly, it is not influenced by induction/adjuvant treatment. A global International effort is needed to collect larger series and to confirm these conclusions. Figure 1: Thymic NETs overall survival curveFigure 1Figure 2: Thymic NETs: cumulative incidence of tumor recurrencesFigure 2

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    O04 - Molecular Pathology I (ID 126)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Pathology
    • Presentations: 1
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      O04.05 - Epidemiology of PI3K pathway alterations in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): findings from the international BASALT-1 study (ID 1810)

      11:15 - 11:25  |  Author(s): C. Gridelli

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Buparlisib (BKM120) is an oral PI3K inhibitor that inhibits all four isoforms of class I PI3K (α, β, γ, δ) and has demonstrated antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antiangiogenic activity in multiple preclinical cancer models. NSCLC cell lines with PIK3CA mutations (muts) have demonstrated increased sensitivity to buparlisib in vitro. BASALT-1 – an ongoing, multicenter, open-label, two-stage Phase ll study (NCT01297491) – evaluates the safety and efficacy of single-agent buparlisib in patients (pts) with NSCLC and an activated PI3K pathway. Here we report data on the prevalence of PI3K pathway alterations in pts with squamous (sq) or non-squamous (non-sq) NSCLC prescreened for entry into BASALT-1.

      Methods
      Pts prescreened for BASALT-1 were ≥18 years of age with previously treated metastatic NSCLC of sq or non-sq histology. PI3K pathway activation (defined as PIK3CA mut and/or PTEN mut and/or PTEN negative [neg; <10% protein expression at 1+ by immunohistochemistry]) was measured in archival or newly acquired tumor tissue collected at prescreening. PIK3CA (exons 1, 5, 7, 9, and 20) and PTEN (exons 1–9) muts were detected primarily using Sanger sequencing in a centralized fashion. Local analysis was permitted at selected sites where a SnapShot approach was most commonly used.

      Results
      As of April 10, 2013, 1183 pts had submitted tumor samples to be assayed (1179 tumors had known histology). PI3K pathway activation was detected in 16.0% of sq and 11.3% of non-sq tumors. In sq tumors (N=612), loss of PTEN protein expression (8.2%) was the most common single alteration observed, followed by PIK3CA mut only (3.1%) and PTEN mut only (2.9%). In non-sq tumors (N=567), PTEN mut only was the most common alteration (4.9%), followed by PIK3CA mut only (2.6%) and PTEN neg only (2.1%). Frequencies of co-existing genetic alterations were: PTEN mut + PTEN neg only (1.0% sq vs 0.4% non-sq), PIK3CA mut + PTEN neg only (0.7% sq vs 0.4% non-sq), PIK3CA mut + PTEN mut only (0% sq vs 0.9% non-sq), and PIK3CA mut + PTEN mut + PTEN neg (0.2% sq vs 0% non-sq). No clear gender, age or ethnicity effects were observed (Table). Figure 1

      Conclusion
      The findings from our large dataset indicate that genetic alterations in the PI3K pathway occur in a clinically significant proportion of pts with sq and non-sq relapsed NSCLC. An accurate characterization of PI3K pathway alteration frequencies in NSCLC will help guide the design of future clinical trials of PI3K inhibitors.

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    P1.11 - Poster Session 1 - NSCLC Novel Therapies (ID 208)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Poster Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
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      P1.11-020 - Economic Analysis of TORCH: Erlotinib versus Cisplatin and Gemcitabine as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (ID 1645)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): C. Gridelli

      • Abstract

      Background
      The TORCH (“Tarceva or Chemotherapy”) randomized phase III trial demonstrated that first-line erlotinib followed by second-line cisplatin-gemcitabine (N=380) compared to cisplatin/gemcitabine followed by erlotinib (N=380) in unselected advanced NSCLC patients yielded inferior survival, without major differences in first-line global quality of life. We determined the incremental costs and utility between arms, including in the EGFR mutation positive subgroup (N=39).

      Methods
      Direct medical resource utilization data and EQ5D scores were collected prospectively during the trial. Mean survival and quality-adjusted survival per arm were calculated for the entire study population and the subgroup with documented EGFR mutations. The analysis was conducted from the Canadian public health perspective, using a lifetime horizon. Costs for medications, outpatient visits, investigations and toxicity management including hospitalization were determined, and presented in 2012 Canadian dollars (CAD). The primary outcomes of the analysis included costs and outcomes per treatment arm, and the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained in the EGFR mutation positive subgroup.

      Results
      The costs per patient in the chemotherapy were higher than in the erlotinib arm, with an incremental mean cost of $4,190 CAD. This was related to longer duration of chemotherapy treatment, associated with higher drug and outpatient visit costs. Higher costs from hospitalization and adverse event management were seen in the erlotinib arm, likely related to disease progression. Mean overall survival in the entire study population was longer in the chemotherapy arm , although mean quality-adjusted survival was similar (0.82 QALY in chemotherapy arm and 0.87 in erlotinib arm). In the EGFR mutation positive subgroup, mean survival was slightly higher in the chemotherapy arm, but quality-adjusted survival was longer in the erlotinib arm (1.19 QALYs versus 1.08 QALYs with chemotherapy). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for first-line erlotinib compared to chemotherapy in the EGFR mutation positive subgroup was $32,916 CAD per QALY.

      Conclusion
      While first-line platinum doublet chemotherapy remains the standard for unselected advanced NSCLC patients, first-line erlotinib appears to be cost effective in the EGFR mutation positive subgroup. This supports routine EGFR genotyping to select first-line therapy in advanced NSCLC, and targeted EGFR TKI therapy for those with EGFR mutation positive NSCLC.

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    P2.08 - Poster Session 2 - Radiotherapy (ID 198)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Poster Session
    • Track: Radiation Oncology + Radiotherapy
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.08-019 - Palliative radiation during pemetrexed plus cisplatin first-line treatment or pemetrexed continuation maintenance treatment in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A report of patient safety in the PARAMOUNT trial (ID 2364)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): C. Gridelli

      • Abstract

      Background
      Patient (pt) safety is of utmost concern to radiation oncologists. Pemetrexed (Pem) is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. The safety of palliative radiation (XRT) during Pem treatment was studied in this subset of pts in the PARAMOUNT trial.

      Methods
      In PARAMOUNT, a randomized, double-blind study, 939 pts received 4 cycles of induction Pem (500 mg/m[2]) + cisplatin (Cis) (75 mg/m[2]) on day 1 every 21 days. Patients without progressive disease (PD) and with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0/1 (n=539) were then randomized (2:1) to maintenance Pem (500 mg/m[2], day 1) + best supportive care (BSC) (Arm A) or placebo + BSC (Arm B) until PD. Best supportive care (BSC) was defined as treatment without a specific antineoplastic regimen and included palliative XRT to extrathoracic structures. Safety was assessed via the incidence of adverse events (AEs) by maximum grade (Gr; CTCAE, v3).

      Results
      The 55 pts who received palliative XRT to extrathoracic structures during treatment had stage IV nonsquamous NSCLC. The majority of pts were male (58%), with an ECOG PS of 1 (75%). Patients’ median age was 61 yrs (range, 32-74) yrs, with 13% of pts ≥70 yrs. The most common location irradiated was bone (43/55 pts). Non-bone locations were: lymph node (3), mediastinum (2), chest (2), and adrenal gland, intraocular, lung, brain, and abdomen (1 each). Forty-five pts received XRT during Pem+Cis induction, 3 of whom also received XRT during maintenance. Seven pts (Arm A) and 6 pts (Arm B) received palliative XRT during maintenance. Total XRT doses ranged from 8-66 Gy. The time interval between day 1 of last chemotherapy cycle and the start of palliative XRT ranged from 0-28 days. Of 55 pts, 12 (22%) had ≥1 AE(s) during XRT considered possibly related to Pem and/or XRT (Table 1). All pts except 1 experienced the AE during induction. The most common AE was Gr 2 anemia. Three pts had Gr 3/4 anemia. Five pts had nonhematologic toxicities. One pt in Arm B, who received a total dose of 20 Gy in the hip during maintenance treatment, had pneumonitis. No AEs were reported for pts who received palliative XRT during Pem maintenance treatment.

      Table 1: AEs during palliative XRT or within 2 weeks after the end of the last fraction in both phases of the PARAMOUNT trial.
      Pts receiving palliative XRT (N=55)
      Patients with AEs during induction and/or maintenance (n=12, 22%)
      Toxicity Gr 1, n (%) Gr 2, n (%) Gr 3-4, n (%)
      Hematologic
      Hemoglobin 1 (1.8) 4 (7.3) 3 (5.5)
      Leukocytes 0 2 (3.6) 1 (1.8)
      Platelets 0 1 (1.8) 0
      Nonhematologic
      Rash/dermatitis 1 (1.8) 1 (1.8) 0
      Rash/desquamation 1 (1.8) 1 (1.8) 0
      Pneumonitis 0 0 1 (1.8)*
      *Pneumonitis was the only event reported for a pt during the maintenance phase. The pt was assigned to placebo.

      Conclusion
      Conclusions: In PARAMOUNT, palliative XRT is well tolerated and can be safely administered at low and high doses during Pem+Cis chemotherapy or Pem monotherapy to pts with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

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    P2.10 - Poster Session 2 - Chemotherapy (ID 207)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Poster Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.10-037 - Efficacy and safety of maintenance pemetrexed in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after completing at least 4 cycles of pemetrexed plus cisplatin induction treatment: a cross-trial analysis of two phase III trials (ID 2449)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): C. Gridelli

      • Abstract

      Background
      In a phase III trial, JMDB, the subgroup of patients with nonsquamous histology showed a significant improvement in survival after treatment with first-line pemetrexed + cisplatin (pem 500 mg/m[2] + cis 75 mg/m[2] every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles). In PARAMOUNT, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial, 539 patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1 were randomized to maintenance pem or placebo after completing 4 cycles of pem+cis without disease progression.

      Methods
      We compared patients from the two randomized arms of PARAMOUNT with a selected homogeneous population from JMDB: 346 patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and an ECOG PS of 0 or 1 who completed at least 4 cycles of pem+cis without disease progression. Efficacy outcomes included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) measured from the start of treatment with pem+cis and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox methods. Rates of toxicities were calculated without formal statistical comparison.

      Results
      Outcomes for the JMDB homogeneous group were similar to the PARAMOUNT placebo arm (PFS: 6.24 vs 5.59, p=0.117; OS: 14.23 vs 13.96, p=0.979). The PARAMOUNT pem group had statistically superior efficacy compared with the JMDB homogeneous group (PFS: 7.46 vs 6.24 p<0.00001; OS: 16.89 vs 14.23 p=0.003). Patients who received pem maintenance displayed numerically higher incidences of drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs) compared with JMDB patients who received ≥4 cycles of pem+cis (10.6% vs 2.9%); grade 3/4 anemia and fatigue were higher in the pem arm of PARAMOUNT. A comparable number of patients (approximately 2/3) on both arms of PARAMOUNT and on JMDB received post-discontinuation systemic therapy (PDT). Results are summarized in Table 1. Table 1: Summary of survival, post-discontinuation systemic therapy , and selected drug-related adverse events in the PARAMOUNT pem and placebo arms and the JMDB homogeneous group

      PARAMOUNT pem arm (n=359) PARAMOUNT placebo arm (n=180) JMDB homogeneous group (n=346)
      PFS
      Median (95% CI), mos 7.46 (6.90-8.57) 5.59 (5.45-5.95) 6.24 (5.91-6.54)
      Cox unadjusted HR (95% CI) 0.66 (0.56-0.77)* 0.86 (0.72-1.04)**
      Unadjusted log-rank p-value <0.00001* 0.117**
      OS
      Median (95% CI), mos 16.89 (15.77-18.99) 13.96 (12.88-15.51) 14.23 (12.94-15.05)
      Cox unadjusted HR (95% CI) 0.75 (0.63-0.91)* 1.00 (0.81-1.24)**
      Unadjusted log-rank p-value 0.003* 0.979**
      Received any PDT, n % 231 (64.3) 129 (71.7) 207 (59.8)
      Patients with ≥1 drug-related SAE, n (%) 38 (10.6) 8 (4.4) 10 (2.9)
      Hematologic grade 3/4 toxicities, n (%)
      Anemia Hemoglobin decreased Hemoglobin 16 (4.5) 2 (0.6) 0 (0.0) 2 (1.1) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (2.9)
      Neutropenia Neutophils/granulocytes 17 (4.7) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 18 (5.2)
      Nonhematologic grade 3/4 toxicities, n (%)
      Fatigue 11 (3.1) 2 (1.1) 5 (1.4)
      *PARAMOUNT pem arm vs JMDB homogeneous group; **PARAMOUNT placebo arm vs JMDB homogeneous group. Abbreviations: PDT=post-discontinuation systemic therapy; PFS: progression-free survival; OS: overall survival; SAE: serious adverse event

      Conclusion
      The PARAMOUNT placebo arm showed results consistent with the JMDB homogeneous group treated with pem+cis. The addition of pem continuation maintenance treatment results in a statistically significant increase in OS and PFS. Although there was an increase in the incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities with longer exposure to pem+cis or maintenance pem, the overall incidence remains low, underscoring the relative safety of these treatment regimens.