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F. Grossi
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MA10 - Facing the Real World: New Staging System and Response Evaluation in Immunotherapy (ID 393)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Mini Oral Session
- Track: Radiology/Staging/Screening
- Presentations: 2
- Moderators:P. Kosmidis
- Coordinates: 12/06/2016, 14:20 - 15:50, Stolz 2
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MA10.09 - Comparison between CT Scan Evaluation Criteria and PERCIST for Evaluation of Immune Check-Point Inhibitors Response (ID 6227)
15:20 - 15:26 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
- Presentation
Background:
Immune check-point inhibitors (ICPIs) exert their activity by blocking inhibitory signaling and therefore enhancing T-cell activity against tumor cells; however, this peculiar mechanism of action might lead to many difficulties in evaluating clinical response with the usual CT imaging due to inflammatory patterns that could confuse the evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the role of FDG-PET to support clinical decision based on CT scan.
Methods:
From May 2015 to April 2016, 74 patients with advanced pretreated NSCLC received at least one dose of nivolumab (3 mg/Kg every 14 days) within a single-institutional translational research trial. Among these, 58 patients were evaluable for response assessment. The patients underwent CT scan and FDG-PET every four cycles and, in case of progressive disease, an additional evaluation was performed after two further cycles in order to confirm it. We evaluated the response to treatment by CT scan with RECIST criteria, Immuno-related Response Criteria (irRC), WHO criteria and immunoRECIST criteria, while the metabolic response has been determined with PERCIST criteria. Finally, we determined the concordance in terms of response between CT evaluation criteria and metabolic response obtained with PERCIST; concordance was calculated with kappa value.
Results:
Our findings showed a low concordance of all CT scan evaluation criteria to PERCIST, the best concordance being between PERCIST and RECIST (K=0.500) and the worst agreement being between PERCIST and irRC (K=0.295) . In particular, PERCIST seems to underestimate the progressive disease (PD). In fact, between 46% and 55% of patients, defined in progression with CT evaluation criteria were considered in stable metabolic disease (SMD) by PERCIST; among these, 50% of patients in the RECIST PD group and 80% of RECIST SD patients were alive at 6 months. Furthermore, in our sample, between 9% and 18% of patients were considered in progression with CT evaluation criteria when they were in partial response with PERCIST; these patients were still alive with a survival similar to those who defined in partial response with RECIST (>9 months).
Conclusion:
FDG-PET evaluation by PERCIST could not be helpful when SMD is reported, in fact, patients that have a RECIST PD maintain a poor prognosis compared to RECIST SD between the patients define as SMD. Conversely, PERCIST evaluation could be informative when it define a partial response, specially when RECIST criteria show a PD.
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MA10.11 - Comparison among Different Radiological Criteria for Assessing Response to Nivolumab in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (ID 6181)
15:32 - 15:38 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
- Presentation
Background:
Immune check-point inhibitors have dramatically changed the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, their mechanism of action creates concerns on the most appropriate method to determine radiological responses to this drug class. The aim of this study is to compare a set of different evaluation criteria for patients receiving nivolumab for advanced NSCLC.
Methods:
Patients with pre-treated advanced NSCLC were enrolled in a single-institutional translational research study in the San Martino Hospital – National Institute for Cancer Research, Genova, Italy and received nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 14 days). Computed tomography (CT) was performed at baseline and after every 4 administrations. The assessments were performed according to Immune-related response criteria (irRC), response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST 1.1), World Health Organization (WHO), and immune-related RECIST (irRECIST), which are recently proposed based on the original RECIST with the following differences derived by irRC: 1) new lesions do not automatically define progressive disease (PD), but are added to the target lesions count; 2) PD has to be confirmed with a subsequent CT-scan after 2 additional cycles. The concordance among the different criteria was determined with Cohen’s kappa coefficient (K).
Results:
Fifty-two patients were eligible: median age= 70 years (44-85); male/female: 70%/30%; current or former smokers= 87%; non-squamous/squamous histology= 79%/21%; median number of cycles= 6 (4-29). The following responses were observed:
Generally, the concordance between first evaluation and best response was good for all the criteria (K ranging from 0.783 to 0.839); the concordance between irRECIST and irRC was high (K= 0.828) and RECIST 1.1 had a good concordance with IRC (K= 0.734), irRECIST (K= 0.767), and WHO (0.766).Partial Response Stable Disease Progressive Disease First evaluation (4 cycles) RECIST 1.1 4 (7.7%) 19 (36.5%) 29 (55.8%) irRC 3 (5.8%) 23 (44.2%) 26 (50%) WHO 3 (5.8%) 20 (38.5%) 29 (55.8%) irRECIST 4 (7.6%) 24 (46.2%) 24 (46.2%) Best Response Partial Response Stable Disease Progressive Disease RECIST 1.1 9 (17.3%) 14 (26.9%) 29 (55.8%) irRC 8 (15.4%) 19 (36.5%) 25 (48.1%) WHO 7 (13.5%) 17 (32.7%) 28 (53.8%) irRECIST 11 (21.2%) 18 (34.6%) 23 (44.2%)
Conclusion:
The different response assessment methods were generally concordant. Since response is more easily assessed with irRECIST than with irRC, the former might be proposed as an appropriate method of response evaluation.
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P1.03 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 455)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Radiology/Staging/Screening
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/05/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P1.03-035 - Does Screening with Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) of Asbestos Exposed Subjects Reduce Mortality for Lung Cancer (LC)? (ID 5586)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Our previous prospective non-randomized ATOM002 study showed that LDCT screening of asbestos exposed subjects can identify LC at an earlier, and potentially more curable, stage than chest radiographs (CXR) (Fasola et al, The Oncologist 2007). The ATOM002 participants were selected from subjects enrolled in a surveillance program for asbestos exposed workers at the Monfalcone Occupational Health Unit in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region, Italy. Here, we report a cohort mortality study of asbestos exposed subjects from that surveillance program, comparing outcomes in the ATOM002 participants and contemporary nonparticipants.
Methods:
Within a cohort of 2,433 asbestos exposed subjects, we compared mortality between the ATOM study participants (who had additional baseline and 1 year LDCT) and nonparticipants (n=926 and 1,507, respectively). The follow-up period spanned the years 2002-2011. Cox models were performed to assess survival for all causes, all cancers, LC and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Final models estimating mortality hazard ratios (HR) were adjusted for smoking habits, age, level of asbestos exposure and Charlson-Quan comorbidity index. For external comparison, we estimated the standardized mortality rate ratio (SMR) using FVG regional standard rates.
Results:
There was a significant 59.3% (95%CI: 3.9-82.8) reduction in adjusted mortality for LC among ATOM002 participants vs. nonparticipants. LC crude mortality was 99.4 per 100,000 person-year in participants (8 LC deaths) compared to 430.4 per 100,000 person-year in nonparticipants (50 LC deaths). Mortality was also reduced for all causes (HR=0.61; 95%CI 0.44-0.84), but not for all cancers (HR=0.97; 95%CI 0.62-1.50) or malignant pleural mesothelioma (HR=0.86; 95%CI 0.31-2.41). Compared with regional mortality rates, a trend towards reduced mortality for LC was found among ATOM002 participants (SMR =0.55; 95%CI 0.24-1.09), in contrast to a statistically significant increase in the nonparticipants (SMR = 2.07; 95%CI 1.53-2.73).
Conclusion:
In our cohort, participation in the LDCT based screening study was associated with reduced mortality for LC compared to empiric CXR based public health surveillance. To our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting reduction in mortality for LC with LDCT screening in an asbestos exposed population. LDCT screening might therefore be a reasonable approach for surveillance in these populations.
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P1.06 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 458)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Advanced NSCLC
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/05/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P1.06-017 - Observational Study on Prolonged Disease Stabilization in Advanced NSCLC EGFR WT/Unknown Patients Treated with Erlotinib in Second Line (ID 4998)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
In advanced NSCLC, erlotinib treatment was shown to improve survival independently of EGFR status and induce high rates of prolonged stable disease (SD). It has previously been reported that, after second-/third-line erlotinib, PFS and OS are long-lasting and similar between patients with SD ≥8 months and those attaining partial/complete response (PR/CR). The present study investigated the clinical value of SD in a real-world setting of advanced NSCLC.
Methods:
This Italian multicenter observational study enrolled patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC on second-line erlotinib and wild-type/unknown EGFR mutational status, with SD, CR or PR per RECIST v1.1 lasting for ≥4 weeks. Patients were observed from the beginning of erlotinib for approximately 8 months or until death. Primary end-points were the rate and duration of SD (i.e. time interval from erlotinib start to the last evidence of SD by RECIST) or CR+PR. Secondary end-points were OS and PFS (i.e. time interval from the erlotininb start to the first evidence of progression), estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and calculated by response duration or disease stabilization. Adverse events occurring during the observation period were also recorded.
Results:
At the cut-off date of 30/04/16, 144/172 (83.7%) enrolled patients were evaluable for response (mean age 69.1 years, 61.8% males). At the start of erlotinib treatment, 85.4% were non-smokers, 89.6% had an ECOG-PS of 0-1, and 84.7% had stage IV NSCLC (83.3% adenocarcinoma and 11.8% squamous cell carcinoma). Following second-line erlotinib, 82.6% (119/144) of patients achieved SD and 17.4% (25/144) PR. Notably, SD was maintained for ≥8 months in 27% (39/144) of cases. At the end of the observation period, 12 (8.3%) patients had deceased, none with SD ≥8 months. Median OS had not been reached by the entire population. According to SD duration, median OS was 4.3 months if <2 months, 6.8 if between 2 and 5 months, and not reached if ≥5 months or if PR. Median PFS was 9.0 months in the entire population, 8.7 among patients with SD and 10.8 with PR. According to SD duration, PFS was 1.4 if <2 months, 4.4 months if between 2 and 5 months, 7.5 if between 5 and 8 months and 10.5 if ≥8 months. No unexpected toxicities were observed.
Conclusion:
In advanced NSCLC, second-line erlotinib yielded a high rate of SD, lasting ≥8 months in 27% of cases, with PFS similar to PR patients and low mortality rate.
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P2.01 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 461)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Biology/Pathology
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/06/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P2.01-067 - The Relevance of CEA and CYFRA21-1 as Predictive Factors in Nivolumab Treated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients (ID 6121)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE are tumor markers acknowledged as useful predictors of response to chemotherapy for advanced adenocarcinoma, squamous and small-cell lung cancer, respectively. However, their role in cancer immunotherapy needs to be investigated.
Methods:
We analyzed 56 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab (3 mg/kg) every 14 days within a single-institutional translational research study. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at each cycle up to 5 cycles, and then every two cycles. All patients underwent a CT-scan every 4 cycles and responses were classified according to RECIST and Immune-Related Response Criteria (irRC). The serum level of CEA was measured with a Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay while CYFRA21-1 and NSE with an Immuno Radiometric Assay. The markers levels at baseline and after 4 cycles were used to analyze the relationship between their median variation and the objective response rate (ORR). The performance of tumor markers in predicting ORR was analyzed by ROC analysis and a reduction of 20% was used as cut-off level.
Results:
Forty-eight patients were evaluated: median age: 71 years (44-85); male/female: 73%/27%; current or former smokers: 87.5%; non-squamous/squamous histology: 79%/21%. Baseline median levels were 4.8 ng/ml for CEA, 3.47 ng/ml for CYFRA21-1 and 7.51 ng/ml for NSE. At baseline, values over the upper normal limit of CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE were detected in 23 (48%), 26 (54%), and 7 (14%) patients respectively. Significant differences were observed between responders and non-responders and CEA variation (-9% vs.+41%, p=0.003 for RECIST; -10% vs.+31%, p=0.015 for irRC), CYFRA21-1variation (-39% vs.+92%, p<0.001 for RECIST; -35% vs.+72%, p=0.003 for irRC) and NSE variation (-30% vs.+23%, p=0.005 for RECIST; -23% vs.+36%, p=0.004 for irRC). Significant correlations were observed between CEA and CYFRA21-1 decrease with RECIST or irRC: with RECIST, a decrease of 20% of CEA was achieved in 43% of responders and in 8% of non-responders (p=0.013), while a decrease of 20% of CYFRA21-1 occurred in 67% of responders and in 8% of non-responders (p<0.007). With irRC, a decrease of 20% of CEA was achieved in 42% of responders and in 9% of non-responders (p=0.018), while a decrease of 20% of CYFRA21-1 occurred in 58% of responders and in 14% of non-responders (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed the positive association between CYFRA 21-1 (≤20%) and ORR (RECIST: p=0.004; irRC: p=0.016).
Conclusion:
The reduction in serum level of CEA and CYFRA21-1 might be a reliable biomarker to predict immunotherapy efficacy in NSCLC patients.
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P3.02c - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 472)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Advanced NSCLC
- Presentations: 10
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/07/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P3.02c-036 - Management of Early Disease Progression during Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Nivolumab (ID 6249)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Immune check-point inhibitors have recently become a cornerstone of the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The peculiar mechanism of action of this drug class implies the possibility to treat patients beyond progressive disease (PD) on the basis of parameters such as the observation of clinical benefit or mild progression at computed tomography scan (CT-scan); however, a guideline for managing early PD during cancer immunotherapy has not been clearly defined yet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the approaches to patients experiencing early PD during treatment with nivolumab for advanced NSCLC.
Methods:
Patients treated with nivolumab (3 mg/Kg every 14 days) for advanced NSCLC between April 2015 and May 2016 within a single-institutional translational research study conducted in the San Martino Hospital – National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy (approved by the local ethical committee) were considered eligible if their first response assessment (after 4 cycles) was PD. The response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and the immune-related response criteria (irRC) were employed. Since IRC imply the confirmation of PD after 2 further cycles, a cut-off of 6 cycles was set to define the patients who continued nivolumab beyond progression.
Results:
Globally, 31 patients were eligible: median age= 69 years (50-81); males/females= 74%/26%; current or former smokers= 90%; non-squamous/squamous histology= 67%/33%; 25 patients had PD as first evaluation with both criteria, while 4 had PD only with RECIST and 2 had PD only with IRC. With RECIST, 35% of the patients received nivolumab beyond progression (median= 10 cycles) and 80% of such patients were alive at the time of the analysis; on the contrary, only 53% of the patients who discontinued nivolumab at PD were still alive at the time of the analysis. With irRC, 30% of the patients received nivolumab beyond progression (median= 10 cycles) and 75% of such patients were alive at the time of the analysis, compared to only 47% of the patients who discontinued nivolumab at PD. The decision of continuing nivolumab beyond PD was based on the reported clinical benefit (67%), on the observation of a very limited progression at the CT-scan (22%) or on discordance between response criteria (11%).
Conclusion:
Administering nivolumab beyond progression might influence the outcomes of selected patients. Additional parameters for discriminating which patients are going to benefit from nivolumab continuation need to be investigated.
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P3.02c-039 - Endocrinological Side-Effects of Nivolumab in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (ID 6246)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Immune check-point inhibitors (ICPIs) are considered well-tolerated drugs. Previous experience with ipilimumab in advanced melanoma have shown possible endocrine toxicities, while less data have been collected about Nivolumab. ICPIs act by blocking inhibitory signaling and, therefore, enhancing T-cell activity against tumor cells. This mechanism might result in impaired self-tolerance with subsequent development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and endocrine toxicities are especially relevant.
Methods:
From May 2015 to April 2016, 74 patients with advanced pretreated NSCLC (52 Male, 22 Female, mean age: 64 years) received at least one dose of nivolumab (3 mg/Kg every 14 days) within a single-istitutional translational research trial . Blood samples were collected at baseline and at each cycle in order to monitor hormone (TSH, ACTH, cortisol, Prolactin[PRL] and testosterone) serum levels and autoantibodies (ATG, ATPO and anti-TSH) formation. Thyroid morphology was evaluated by ultrasonography at baseline, eventually repeated if TSH anomaly was observed.
Results:
Thyroid function was assessed in all 74 patients. At baseline, 6 patients had impaired thyroid function: 5 with reduced TSH, including two undergone previous thyroidectomy that required reduction in levothyroxine replacement therapy, and 1 with increased TSH. During treatment, 4 patients developed transient thyrotoxicosis evolving to hypothyroidism in 75% of cases. All patients with transient thyrotoxicosis reported increased thyroid autoantibodies; 8 patients developed hypothyroidism, with negative thyroid autoimmunity. Adrenocortical axis was evaluable in 55 subjects, of which 14 under steroid (equivalent of 10 mg of prednisone) therapy (one had partial hypopituitarism). Among the remaining 31 patients, 7 showed significant cortisol alterations (2 elevated, 5 reduced). Gonadal axis was evaluated in 38 male patients; among these, one was taking testosterone replacement therapy for partial hypopituitarism and one was receiving GnRH antagonists. No significant change on gonadal status was observed. PRL was assessed in 56 patients; among these, 10 were treated with drugs known to increase PRL levels; 20 patients had at least one elevated prolactin value, 7 from baseline and 13 developed during treatment. However, only 8 showed significantly increased values (>50 mcg/L in n=6, developed during therapy in 50% of cases; >100 mcg/L in n=2 from baseline).
Conclusion:
Thyroid function abnormalities, in particular non-autoimmune hypothyroidism and transient thyrotoxicosis on autoimmune basis, seem the major endocrine adverse event related to nivolumab. With respect to other hormonal axes, further conclusions might be drawn after a longer follow-up, due to the heterogeneity of available results and the presence of interfering factors.
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P3.02c-054 - Prognostic Role of cfDNA in Patients with NSCLC under Treatment with Nivolumab (ID 6275)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Nivolumab is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor approved for previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive blood test that detects cell-free DNA (cfDNA) shed from the tumour into the bloodstream. Monitoring cfDNA in patients with NSCLC under treatment with Nivolumab may be helpful to assess efficacy of the therapy and may be related with patients’ survival.
Methods:
Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 74 patients with pretreated advanced NSCLC within a single-institutional translational research trial from May 2015 to April 2016. Patients received intravenous Nivolumab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity. All the patients underwent CT-scan every 4 cycles and responses were classified according to immune related Response Criteria. CfDNA was extracted from plasma using the Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit (Qiagen). The quantification of cfDNA (ng/ml plasma) was performed by qPCR using hTERT single copy gene. Kaplan-Meier survival function was used to compare the survival curves from cfDNA at baseline and at the time of first evaluation (after 4 cycles of Nivolumab).
Results:
Among the 74 enrolled patients 72 were evaluable for cfDNA survival analyses; 14 experienced early death, 25 progressive disease (PD), nine partial response (PR),19 stable disease (SD) and five were not evaluable for response. 27 out of the 28 responsive patients (PR+SD) are still alive at the time of analysis. In 25 evaluable patients with PD after the first radiological evaluation, median cfDNA < 786 ng/ml was significantly associated with an improved median survival as compared to cfDNA ≥786 ng/ml (295 vs 96 days respectively, HR=0.09290, 95% CI 0.019987-0.4322, p-value: 0.0052); similar results have been obtained in the subset of 25 patients progressing at best response (p-value: 0.0042). Analyzing the OS of the 72 evaluable patients, median survival of those with cfDNA<786 ng/ml is still undetermined, while it is equal to 181 days for those with cfDNA>786 ng/ml (HR 0.3559, 95%CI 0.1674-0.7568, p-value 0.0035).
Conclusion:
Our preliminary data show a significantly improved survival for NSCLC patients treated with Nivolumab having cfDNA<786 ng/ml than those with higher cfDNA; the correlation with OS is observed in patients at the first radiological evaluation and in those with PD at best response.
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P3.02c-072 - Predictive Immunologic Markers of Response to Nivolumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (ID 6228)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Nivolumab has become a consolidated therapeutic approach for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, consistent prognostic and predictive factors are still lacking. Since these agents act by enhancing the immune response against tumor cells, it is possible that distinctive patterns in the circulating T cell sub-populations might be associated with different responsiveness. The aim of this study is to determine whether variations in these sub-populations might predict objective response to nivolumab in NSCLC.
Methods:
Blood samples were collected and stored from patients receiving nivolumab (3 mg/Kg every 14 days) for advanced NSCLC within a single-institutional translational research study conducted in the San Martino Hospital – National Institute for Cancer Research, Genova, Italy (approved by the local ethical committee). Sample collection was performed before each administration for 4 consecutive cycles, followed by computed tomography (CT)-scan. Response assessment was performed with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) v. 1.1 and the immune-related response criteria (irRC); responses were defined as partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD). Additional CT-scans were performed at 4 cycles intervals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed for the frequency of the major adaptive cell subsets, including B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and T-cells; the latter were divided into CD8+ T cells, exhausted CD8+ T cells, CD4+ cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs); the relative frequencies and the ratios between the sub-populations at each sample collection were compared with radiological response.
Results:
Fifty-four patients were considered eligible: median age= 70 (44-85); male/female: 70%/30%; current or former smokers= 87%; non-squamous/squamous histology= 80%/20%. Patients achieving PR at the first RECIST assessment had a significant upregulation of Tregs (CD4+ Foxp3+ CD39+ cells; p= 0.021), as well as a decreased CD8+/Treg ratio (p= 0.033) at the baseline sample. Conversely, patients experiencing PD at the first RECIST assessment had a significantly upregulated CD8+/Treg ratio at cycle 2 (p= 0.029). Finally, patients experiencing PD at irRC had a higher proportion of activated T cells (PD1+ CD56+ CD3+) compared to the other patients (P= 0.018) at cycle 2.
Conclusion:
The proportions of Tregs and activated T cells appear to be correlated with different responses to nivolumab according to RECIST and irRC. While the immunologic mechanism at the basis of these findings has to be defined, further studies involving PBMC as predictors of response to immunotherapy for NSCLC are highly advised.
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P3.02c-074 - Evaluation of a Pretreatment Serum Tests for Nivolumab Benefit in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (ID 5505)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Anti-PD1 inhibitors are becoming the treatment of choice for 2[nd] line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While existing testing for PDL-1 expression may correlate with anti-PD1 benefit, current data do not support these tests to be sufficient to guide therapy. We evaluated the utility of a serum-based pre-treatment test first developed to identify patients benefitting from anti-PD1 therapy in metastatic melanoma[1] in patients with NSCLC. These results were compared to the data obtained from application of the established VeriStrat[2] test to the same samples.
Methods:
60 advanced NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab in an observational study were included. Pretreatment serum samples were classified using the fully locked mass spectrometry-based multivariate tests BDX008 and VeriStrat. BDX008 generates a classification of positive (BDX008+, good outcomes) or negative (BDX008-, poor outcomes); VeriStrat classifies samples as Good and Poor. The association of test classifications with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time-to-failure (TTF) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.
Results:
37% of patients were classified as BDX008+ and 63% as BDX008-; 62% were classified as VeriStrat Good and 38% as Poor. Both tests significantly stratified OS (Table), but not PFS or TTF, and remained significant for OS in multivariate analyses (p=0.0167 and 0.0184, for BDX008 and VeriStrat, respectively). Out of 11 patients who died before the first radiological evaluation, 10 were classified as BDX008-, 9 as VeriStrat Poor.Test Log-rank p value CPH HR [95% CI] Median Survival (months) [95% CI] BDX0008 (+ vs -) 0.0026 0.189 [0.056-0.637] BDX0008+: Not reached BDX0008-: 5.5 [2.6-11.9] VeriStrat (Good vs Poor) 0.0186 0.390 [0.173-0.880] VS Good: Not reached VS Poor: 4.1 [1.0-Undef.]
Conclusion:
BDX008 developed for immunotherapy of patients with melanoma can be applied to NSCLC patients, and shows a significant separation for OS. Clinical utility of BDX008 will need to be further evaluated. VeriStrat is also prognostic for the same patients. 1. J. Weber et al, “Pre-treatment patient selection for nivolumab benefit based on serum mass spectra”, SITC 2015. 2. V. Gregorc et al, The Lancet Oncology, p713, 15(7), 2014.
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P3.02c-077 - Cardiac Troponin-I Elevation in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer during PD1/PDL1 Inhibition with Nivolumab (ID 6258)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Immune check-point inhibitors are effective for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, their mechanism of action is associated with peculiar immune-related adverse events (irAEs). While cardiac irAEs are seldom reported, animal data suggest that the myocardium might be sensitive to PD1/PD-L1 impairment. Minimal alterations of Cardiac Troponin-I (CTnI) can identify subclinical cardio-toxicity induced by antineoplastic agents like anthracyclines. The aim of this study is to determine whether CTnI might be used as a biomarker of cardiologic irAEs during treatment with nivolumab in advanced NSCLC.
Methods:
Serum samples were collected and stored from 61 patients receiving nivolumab (3 mg/Kg every 14 days) for advanced NSCLC within a single-institutional translational research study conducted in the San Martino Hospital – National Institute for Cancer Research, Genova, Italy (approved by the local ethical committee); samples were collected at baseline and at each cycle up to 5 cycles, and then every 2 cycles. Cardiac Troponin-I was retrospectively quantified with the luminescent oxygen channeling immunoassay (LOCI™) optimized on the Dimension Vista[®] analytical platform (Siemens Healthcare, Milan, Italy); and defined as undetectable (<0.015 μg/L) or detectable (>0.015 μg/L); a value of 0.045 μg/L was considered significant. Cardiologic anamnesis of the patients with detectable CTnI was collected from clinical documentation; additionally, patients alive at the time of the analysis underwent cardiologic evaluation.
Results:
Fifty-nine patients were evaluable: median age= 69 years (44-81); male/female: 69%/31%; current or former smokers= 86.4%; non-squamous/squamous histology= 80%/20%; median number of cycles= 6 (1-29). Twenty-six out of 351 collected samples had detectable CTnI levels. Thirteen patients (22%) had detectable CTnI levels in at least one sample; among these, 6 (10%) patients had significant alterations in at least one sample, and in 3 cases (5%) this alteration was reported in multiple samples. No specific time-related pattern was identifiable for CTnI alterations. Five patients with detectable CTnI, of which 2 with significant alterations (0.292 μg/L and 0.285 μg/L), had neither evident cardiovascular disease, nor cancer-related para-cardiac infiltration. Two patients had pericardial effusion, while two other had concurrent irAEs (hyperthyroidism and hepatitis).
Conclusion:
Troponin-I was altered in a considerable number of patients receiving nivolumab, in some cases with no evident concurrent cardiovascular disease or manifest indirect noxae. Although a rationale for immunotherapy-related myocardial inflammation is acknowledged, further investigations on the cardiovascular effects of PD1/PDL1 inhibitors are required to draw meaningful conclusions, such as studies involving prospective cardiovascular assessments of patients receiving these agents.
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P3.02c-092 - Nivolumab in Multi-Treated Patients with Advanced Sq-NSCLC: Data from the Italian Cohort of Expanded Access Programme (EAP) (ID 4792)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
The prognosis of patients with advanced Sq-NSCLC worsens with the increase of the number of treatment linesand no effective therapeutic options were available for those refractory patients so far.Nivolumab demonstrated significant benefits against the SoC docetaxel in 2[nd] line treatment of advanced sq-NSCLC. In the real life experience of the EAP we could assess the clinical activity and tolerability of nivolumab not only in patients treated in 2[nd] line but also in patients who had received at least 2 lines of therapy prior than nivolumab.
Methods:
Nivolumab was provided upon physician request for patients aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of 1 prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks for <24 months. Pts included in the analysis had received ≥1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events (AEs) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03).
Results:
210 patients, corresponding to 56.4% of the entire Italian cohort (n=372), received nivolumab after at least 2 prior lines of chemotherapy in the EAP: 120 (57.1%), 69 (32.9%) and 21 (10%) had received 2, 3 and > 3 prior lines of therapy, respectively. Response was evaluable in 204 patients: with a median number of 8 doses (range, 1–24) and a median follow-up of 5.1 months, the disease control rate was 47%, with 3 patients (1%) in complete response, 30 patients (14%) in partial response and 66 patients (32%) in stable disease. 36 patients (17%) were treated beyond RECIST-defined progression, with 11 of them achieving disease control. As of April 2016, median progression-free survival and median overall survival were respectively 3.8 and 11.2 months. 117/210 patients (55.7%) discontinued treatment for any reason except toxicity; 11 out of 210 (5.2%) discontinued due to AEs.
Conclusion:
These findings showed that nivolumab provided clinical activity with a manageable safety profile in patients with advanced, refractory Sq-NSCLC. These data suggest that nivolumab can be a treatment option for patients failing more than one line of chemotherapy.
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P3.02c-094 - Italian Nivolumab Advanced Squamous NSCLC Expanded Access Program: Efficacy and Safety in Patients with Brain Metastases (ID 5144)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
The prognosis of NSCLC patients (pts) with brain metastases is still quite poor. These pts usually do not meet the inclusion criteria to be enrolled in clinical trials. Nivolumab Italian Expanded Access Program (EAP) allowed this subpopulation of pts to be included, providing the opportunity to evaluate safety and efficacy of nivolumab treatment in pts with brain metastases.
Methods:
upon physician written request, nivolumab was provided to pts who met the following inclusion criteria: aged ≥18 years, who had received a diagnosis of squamous NSCLC, and who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV squamous NSCLC. Nivolumab is administered intravenously at the dose of 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks for a maximum duration of 24 months. We describe efficacy and safety of nivolumab in pts who received at least one dose. Adverse events were monitored using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.
Results:
from our cohort of 372 patients diagnosed with squamous NSCLC, we report the results of 38 (10.2%) pts with treated and asymptomatic brain metastases. In these pts, with median follow-up of 4.5 months and median number of doses of 6 (range, 1–18), disease control rate was 47.3%, including 1 complete response, 6 partial responses and 11 stable diseases. Treatment beyond RECIST defined progression was allowed, under protocol defined circumstances, in 4 pts. Median progression-free survival was 5.5 months, and overall survival was 6.5 months (data lock of April 2016). Out of the 38 pts included, only 1 discontinued treatment due to AE (2.6%), whereas 21 pts (55.3%) discontinued treatment for non-toxicity related reasons.
Conclusion:
although preliminary, these results demonstrate efficacy of nivolumab in squamous NSCLC pts with brain metastases. Safety of nivolumab in these pts is consistent with previously reported data from clinical trials. These results suggest nivolumab could be beneficial in this subpopulation of pts with unfavourable prognosis.
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P3.02c-095 - Italian Nivolumab Expanded Access Programme: Efficacy and Safety Data in Squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients (ID 5159)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
Nivolumab monotherapy has shown survival benefit in patients (pts) with melanoma, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma and head and neck cancer. The experience of pts and physicians in routine clinical practice is often different from those in a controlled clinical trial setting. Here, we report efficacy and safety of nivolumab monotherapy in pts with squamous non small cell lung cancer (Sq-NCSLC) treated in the nivolumab Expanded Access Programme in Italy.
Methods:
Nivolumab was available upon physician request for pts aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg wass administered intravenously every 2 weeks to a maximum of 24 months. Pts included in the analysis had received at least 1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events (AE) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.
Results:
In total, 371 Italian pts participated in the EAP across 96 centres and 363 patients were evaluable for response. With a median follow-up of 5.2 months (range 0-12.9) and a median of 7 doses, the best overall response rate (BORR) was 18%, with 3 complete responses (CR) and 62 partial responses (PR), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 47%. DCR was comparable among pts regardless previous lines of therapy, brain metastasis, age and smoking habits. A non-conventional benefit was observed in 23 (17 SD and 6 PR) out of 66 pts treated beyond RECIST defined progression. As of April 2016, median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 3.9 (95% CI: 3.2-4.6) and 9.1 (95% CI: 6.7-11.5) months, respectively. Regarding the safety profile, 267 out of 371 pts (72%) had at least one AE of any grade, considered to be drug-related in 106 pts (29%). Grade 3/4 AE were reported in 66 pts and considered to be drug-related in 20 pts (5%). AE were generally manageable following the specific guidelines.
Conclusion:
To date, this is the largest clinical experience with nivolumab in a real-world setting. These preliminary EAP data seems to confirm the efficacy and safety data of nivolumab from registrational trials, supporting its use in current clinical practice for pre-treated pts with Sq-NCSLC.
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P3.02c-096 - Use of Nivolumab in Elderly Patients with Advanced Squamous NSCLC: Results from the Italian Expanded Access Programme (EAP) (ID 5706)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): F. Grossi
- Abstract
Background:
The efficacy and safety of nivolumab in patients with squamous NSCLC (sq-NSCLC) have been demonstrated in several trials including the phase 3, randomized, controlled CheckMate 017 study whose results led to the approval of the product for this indication. However, data on the use of nivolumab in the real world setting is still limited and collecting it is paramount. The Italian nivolumab EAP for sq-NSCLC represents an important source of information in that respect. The current analysis describes results of the use of nivolumab in the group of EAP patients aged >75 years.
Methods:
Nivolumab was provided upon physicians’ request for patients aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks for <24 months. Patients included in the analysis received ≥1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events (AEs) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.
Results:
70 out of 372 (18.8%) patients with advanced Sq-NSCLC participating in the EAP in Italy were ≥75 years old and 68 of them were evaluable for response. With a median number of doses of 7 (range, 1–20) and a median follow-up of 4.7 months, the disease control rate was 42.9%, including 13 patients with a partial response and 17 with stable disease. 16 pts were treated beyond RECIST-defined progression and 5 of them achieved disease control. As of April 2016, the median progression-free survival and median overall survival among those elderly patients were 3.2 and 7.6 months, respectively. Among 70 pts, 41 pts (58.6%) discontinued treatment for any reason except toxicity; 8 out of 70 discontinued due to AE (11.4%).
Conclusion:
This analysis, conducted on elderly patients with sq-NSCLC in a real life setting, suggests that nivolumab is an effective and well tolerated treatment for this special population.
