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A. Zer



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    MA13 - Modern Technologies and Biological Factors in Radiotherapy (ID 395)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Mini Oral Session
    • Track: Radiotherapy
    • Presentations: 1
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      MA13.05 - Nivolumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): The Real-Life Data (ID 5582)

      16:00 - 17:30  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Nivolumab has been recently approved by the FDA as a 2[nd]-line treatment of NSCLC. The data regarding its efficacy in the real-life setting is lacking.

      Methods:
      260 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab at five cancer centers in Israel between January 2015 and March 2016 were observed for OS and toxicity. OS was analyzed by the Cox proportional-hazards regression model.

      Results:
      Patient baseline characteristics: median age 67y (range 41-99); males 68%; smokers 76%; ECOG PS ≥2 46%; Non-sq/Sq/other 70%/23%/7%; KRASm/EGFRm/ALK+/other genetic aberration/none/NA 7%/5%/0%/4%/42%/42%; brain metastases 21%; liver metastases 21%; treatment (Tx) line: 1st/2nd/3rd+-line/NA 6%/64%/26%/4%. Median duration of follow-up was 4.3 mo (range 0.1-13.8); median Tx duration was 2.7 mo (range 0.1-15.5); median number of Tx cycles delivered was 6 (range 1-26). 130 (50%) patients died; median OS comprised 6.6 mo (95%CI 5.6-8.4). In univariate and multivariate analysis, the only variable which significantly correlated with OS was ECOG PS (table 1). Median OS of patients with ECOG PS 0/1 and ECOG PS ≥2 comprised 8.6 mo and 3.5 mo, respectively. Safety data is presented in table 2. Figure 1Figure 2





      Conclusion:
      Nivolumab has reasonable efficacy and good safety profile in the real-life setting. ECOG PS ≥2 is associated with poor prognosis.

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    OA21 - Palliative and Supportive Care for Lung Cancer Patients (ID 405)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Oral Session
    • Track: Palliative Care/Ethics
    • Presentations: 1
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      OA21.02 - ALK-Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is Associated with a High Rate of Venous Thromboembolism (ID 4290)

      11:00 - 12:30  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Patients with lung cancer are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), particularly those receiving chemotherapy. It is estimated that 8-15% of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) experience a VTE in the course of their disease. The incidence in patients with specific molecular subtypes of NSCLC is unknown. We undertook this review to determine the incidence of VTE in patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC.

      Methods:
      We identified all patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC, diagnosed and/or treated at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM CC) in Canada between July 2012 and January 2015. Retrospective data were extracted from electronic medical records. We then included a validation cohort comprising all consecutive patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC treated in two tertiary centers in Israel.

      Results:
      Within the PM CC cohort, of 55 patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC, at a median follow-up of 22 months, 23 (42%) experienced VTE. Patients with VTE were more likely to be Caucasian (p=0.006). The occurrence of VTE was associated with a trend towards worse prognosis (overall survival HR=2.88, p=0.059). Within the validation cohort (N=43), VTE rate was 28% at a median follow-up of 13 months. Combining the cohorts (N=98) the VTE rate was 36%. Patients with VTE were younger (age 52 vs 58, p=0.04) and had a worse ECOG performance status (p=0.04). VTE was associated with shorter OS (HR=5.71, p=0.01)Figure 1.



      Conclusion:
      We found the rate of VTE in our ALK-rearranged cohort is 3-5-fold higher than previously reported for the general NSCLC population. This warrants confirmation in larger cohorts.

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    P2.03b - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 465)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.03b-047 - The Clinical Impact of Multiplex ctDNA Gene Analysis in Lung Cancer (ID 5758)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background:
      Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables a non-invasive option for comprehensive genomic analysis of lung cancer patients. Currently there is insufficient data in regard to the impact of ctDNA analysis on clinical decision making. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of ctDNA sequencing on treatment strategy and progression-free survival.

      Methods:
      In this retrospective study, data was collected from files of 90 NSCLC patients monitored between the years 2011-2016 at the Thoracic Center Unit at Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Israel. The patients performed liquid biopsy NGS analysis by a commercial test (Guardant 360), in which ctDNA was extracted from plasma and analyzed by massively parallel paired end synthesis by digital NGS. This test allows the detection of somatic alterations such as point mutations, indels, fusions and copy number amplifications.

      Results:
      Age at diagnosis ranged between 31 and 89 years, with median age of 63 years. Sex ratio was 1:2.2. Out of 90 patients, 38 consecutive patient files have already been reviewed for clinical impact. 82% (31/38) were diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma. 5% (2/38) performed ctDNA at initial diagnosis, 48% (17/38) performed ctDNA after 1[st] line therapy due to progressive disease and the remaining 50% performed the test after multiple lines of treatment. Liquid biopsy NGS analysis allowed the detection of actionable mutations, according to NCCN guidelines, in 68% (26/38). Treatment decision was changed subsequent to NGS analysis in 34% (13/38) which received tailored targeted therapy. Interestingly, 13% (5/38) were detected with EGFR activating mutation following wild type result by standard local molecular testing based on RT-PCR from tissue biopsy. Based on the RECIST criteria of response evaluation, 30% of the patients had partial response after switching to targeted therapy, 15% had stable disease, 15% experienced progressive disease and ~40% were not evaluated yet. Survival rates will be calculated further in the study based on data availability.

      Conclusion:
      Our interim results analysis showed that liquid biopsy ctDNA testing revealed possible treatment options for more than two-thirds of patients analyzed, including FDA-approved drugs as well as eligibility for clinical trials. Most of the patients that were evaluated showed a positive response to treatment. Although this topic needs to be further assessed in large randomized controlled trials, these positive results emphasize the utility of liquid biopsy analysis to guide clinicians to select the right therapy for the right patient.

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    P3.03 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 473)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Mesothelioma/Thymic Malignancies/Esophageal Cancer/Other Thoracic Malignancies
    • Presentations: 1
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      P3.03-040 - Long Term Outcomes Following IMRT for Mesothelioma Post EPP and Unresectable (ID 4594)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is an uncommon thoracic malignancy which remains a challenge in management. In recent years the use of surgery has been widely debated especially the use of extrapleural pneumonectomy. (EPP) Following EPP radiotherapy has been widely used to reduce local control with varied results. In patients that are not surgical candidates definitive intensity modulated radiotheapy (IMRT) based treatment has become an option in addition to systemic therapy (Zaruder et al.). We sought to report our results in a unique middle-eastern population with low-level asbestos exposure for both: IMRT – post – EPP and with IMRT used as definitive therapy for patients who were unresectable.

      Methods:
      Complete medical records of MPM patients (n=28) treated with IMRT at the Davidoff Center were reviewed with Helsinki committee approval. Patients were divided into two groups: post- EPP(n=17) and without surgery(n=11). Patients following EPP were treated with IMRT to 54Gy to the entire hemithorax. Patients without surgery were treated with pleural IMRT (P-IMRT) to the entire hemithorax to 54Gy. cisplatinum\pemetrexed chemotherapy was used in 18\28 patients. Patients were grouped by asbestos exposure (9/28-32%) and Mediterranean/Arabic (58%) vs. caucasian ethnicity(42%). Patients were followed for outcomes and toxicity until death.

      Results:
      28 patients, predominately male, (82%) were treated at a single center in Israel between 8/2007 and 3/2016. For patients post-EPP 56% received sequential chemotherapy with IMRT. 94% had epitheliod histology. 11/17 (65%) had disease progression with a median time TTP of 12 months(range 1-72mos) . 23% of remain alive without evidence of disease. Only 2/17 (11%) experienced local failure. The Median OS for this group is 23.6 months(1- 100 months) . For the 11 patients treated with definitive P-IMRT, 90% received platinum based chemotherapy. 81% were epitheliod histology. 54% have experienced progression with median TTP of 12 months. Median overall survival for the cohort is 13.5 months (range 8-49months) . Of note no episodes of grade 3 or greater radiation pneumonitis were seen in the entire cohort.

      Conclusion:
      This is the first Israeli report of outcomes following definitive therapy for mesothelioma. IMRT was delivered without toxicity. The local control following EPP was excellent with encouraging OS. P-IMRT can be delivered to unresectable patients with encouraging overall survival and time to progression. Further work must be done to sequence systemic therapy with IMRT.

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    P3.07 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 493)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Regional Aspects/Health Policy/Public Health
    • Presentations: 2
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      P3.07-004 - Nivolumab for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): An Economic Model for Risk Sharing Based on Real-Life Data (ID 5452)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background:
      Increasing costs of novel immunotherapy requires risk sharing between manufacturers and payers. Aside from the cost per dose of the compound, the total treatment cost (TTC) is affected by the duration of treatment (DOT). DOT in real life may differ significantly from that observed in the randomized clinical trials. The objective of this study was to develop a risk sharing strategy based on real world data for the use of nivolumab in NSCLC.

      Methods:
      We analyzed DOT for 260 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab at five Israeli cancer centers between January 2015 and March 2016. We developed a model to incorporate the number of cycles delivered and to calculate the TTC for each patient. We calculated the “mid-point” (MP) to estimate the number of cycles for all patients to comprise half of the TTC for the population.

      Results:
      Median age 67y (range 41-99); males 68%; ECOG PS ≥2 46%; Non-squamous (Non-sq)/Squamous(Sq)/other histology 70%/23%/7%; treatment line: 1[st]/2[nd]/3[rd]+-line/NA 6%/64%/26%/4%. All patients received nivolumab as standard of care or within the compassionate use program. Median duration of follow-up was 4.3 mo (range 0.1-13.8); 27% of patients continued the treatment at the time of data cut-off. Median DOT was 2.7 mo (range 0.1-15.5). Median number of treatment cycles delivered calculated from a total of 206 patients was 6 (range 1-26 and 1-23 for Sq and Non-sq NSCLC, respectively). TTC distribution according to the treatment cycle and MP for Non-sq and Sq NCSLC are presented in Figure 1 (A and B), respectively. Figure 1



      Conclusion:
      Based on current list prices in Israel, the estimated mid-point for total treatment cost is the 5[th] cycle for Non-Sq NSCLC and the 4[th] cycle for Sq NSCLC. Our data may represent a basis for risk sharing discussion between the payers and the manufacturers.

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      P3.07-007 - Compassionate Use Program for New Cancer Drugs in Israel - Shortcut for Reimbursement Approval (ID 4873)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Zer

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Drug accessibility and reimbursement remains a major challenge across the globe. The Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) approves drugs based on previous approval by the FDA and EMA-EU. Compassionate use programs (CPU) represent the use of a compound approved by the FDA/EMA-EU before its approval by local regulatory authorities. CPU provides accelerated access to novel compounds to patients otherwise unable to get the treatment.

      Methods:
      This is a retrospective analysis of 102 patients treated with nivolumab, osimertinib, or nintedanib within a CPU in a single tertiary Israeli cancer center. Basic patient demographics, different logistic treatment aspects and the time from FDA/EMA-EU approval to reimbursement approval for these compounds in Israel were analyzed.

      Results:
      We started Nintedanib program by July 2014 when the official MOH approval was 16 months later in Nov 2015. Osimertinib program was started a year before the official approval by MOH and was approved for reimbursement 4 months prior to drug registration. Nivolumab for Non-squamous was started 6 months before approval, while for Squamous the label was approved by MOH 2 months after starting the compassionate program. Reimbursement approval was received 6 months thereafter for nivolumab (Squamous NSCLC). Two out of the three drugs in the program were approved for reimbursement, one of them even before MOH registration. Figure 1



      Conclusion:
      Compassionate use programs allow access to new cancer drugs prior to their approval by the regulatory authorities, increases physicians' experience with novel compounds and may affect reimbursement approval.