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Marina Chiara Garassino



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    MA 02 - Emerging Targets (ID 656)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Mini Oral
    • Track: Clinical Design, Statistics and Clinical Trials
    • Presentations: 1
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      MA 02.02 - Phase 2 Study of Pembrolizumab Plus CC-486 vs Pembrolizumab Plus Placebo in Previously Treated Patients with Advanced NSCLC (ID 8581)

      11:00 - 12:30  |  Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Studies have demonstrated that epigenetic modifiers, such as azacitidine, may sensitize tumor cells to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab (pembro). Efficacy and safety results from a phase 2, randomized, double-blind study of pembro in combination with CC-486, an oral formulation of azacitidine, vs pembro+placebo (PBO) for 2L treatment of advanced NSCLC are reported.

      Method:
      Patients aged ≥ 18 years with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC with only 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized 1:1 (stratified by histology) to pembro 200 mg day 1 plus either CC-486 300 mg or placebo days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle. Primary endpoint was PFS. Key secondary endpoints included OS, ORR and safety.

      Result:
      51 and 49 patients were randomized to the pembro+CC-486 and pembro+PBO arms. Baseline characteristics were generally balanced between treatment groups. Efficacy results are shown in Table 1. Median duration of treatment for pembro+CC-486 vs pembro+PBO was 14 vs 24 weeks, and median number of cycles was 5 vs 7. The most common grade 3/4 TEAEs associated with pembro+CC-486 were nausea (14%), vomiting (12%), asthenia (10%), and diarrhea (8%), vs diarrhea (6%), asthenia (6%) and pneumonia (6%) with pembro+PBO. Patients treated with pembro+CC-486 vs pembro+PBO experienced a higher rate of pembro dose interruptions (29% vs 16%) and discontinuations (20% vs 10%), and a higher rate of CC-486 or PBO dose interruptions (61% vs 24%) and discontinuations (33% vs 12%). Gastrointestinal events, asthenia/fatigue, and elevated transaminase levels were the most common TEAEs leading to discontinuations.

      Conclusion:
      The addition of CC-486 to pembro did not improve the primary endpoint of PFS compared with pembro+PBO. PD-L1 expression did not appear to be predictive of CC-486 treatment efficacy. The increase in TEAEs in the combination arm, particularly gastrointestinal (nausea and vomiting), which are known to be associated with CC-486, may have influenced treatment exposure.

      Efficacy Endpoints Pembro + CC-486 n = 51 Pembro + PBO n = 49
      Overall
      PFS, median, months 3.1 4.0
      ORR, n (%) 10 (19.6) 7 (14.3)
      By PD-L1 Level at Baseline n = 45 n = 44
      PFS, median, months ≥ 50% ≥ 1%-49% 0% 5.5 1.6 3.6 8.0 1.4 3.9
      ORR, % ≥ 50% ≥ 1%-49% 0% 37.5 20.0 18.5 37.5 0.0 7.1


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    MA 11 - Emerging Diagnostic/Biomarkers in NSCLC (ID 668)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Mini Oral
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
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      MA 11.11 - Italian Nivolumab Expanded Access Program in Non-Squamous NSCLC Patients: Results in Never Smokers and EGFR Positive Patients (ID 8404)

      11:00 - 12:30  |  Presenting Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Nivolumab is the first checkpoint inhibitor approved for the treatment of non-Squamous non small cell lung cancer (non-Sq-NSCLC). Although smoking habits are considered a relevant risk factor related to the onset of lung cancer, previous studies showed that current and former smokers patients (pts) treated with nivolumab may have a greater advantage in terms of clinical benefit than never smokers and EGFR mutated. Nevertheless, to date, no definitive conclusion may be drawn and no data are available from a real world setting. Here we report the data from Italian expanded access program (EAP) in the never smoker pts and EGFR mutated pts.

      Method:
      Nivolumab was provided upon physicians’ request for pts aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV non-Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks for <24 months. Pts included in the analysis received ≥1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events (AEs) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

      Result:
      Overall, of 1588 patients with non-Sq-NSCLC, smoking history was available for 1430 pts and 305 (21%) were never smokers and, among 1455 pts evaluable for EGFR mutation, 102 (7%) were positive. In the never smoker group, EGFR status was available for 287 pts, with 51 (18%) who harbored an activating EGFR mutation. Among never smokers, with a median follow-up (FU) of 7.0 months (0.1-20.3) and a median of 7 doses (1-38), the best objective response rate (BORR), the disease control rate (DCR) and the median overall survival (OS) were 9%, 42% and 10.0 months (8.1-11.9), respectively. Among all EGFR positive pts, with a median FU of 5.5 months (0.1-21.2) and a median of 6 doses (1-40), the BORR, DCR and median OS were 9%, 30% and 8.3 months (2.2-14.4), respectively. In the never smoker group, EGFR positive pts had 2% ORR, 26% DCR and 5.6 months (3.4-7.8) of median OS. However, it should be considered that these pts had poorer prognostic factors (ECOG performance status, brain metastasis) at baseline.

      Conclusion:
      These preliminary results represent the first real-life data regarding the efficacy of nivolumab in special subpopulations, including never smokers and EGFR positive pts. These results warrants further studies to evaluate the possible therapeutic options in these pts, also taking into account available alternatives and safety profile.

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    P1.01 - Advanced NSCLC (ID 757)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Poster Session with Presenters Present
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
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      P1.01-053 - Italian Nivolumab Expanded Access Programme (EAP): Data from Patients with Advanced Non-Squamous NSCLC and Brain Metastases (ID 10056)

      09:30 - 16:00  |  Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Among patients (pts) affected by non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-Sq-NSCLC), those with secondary brain metastases are very common and are characterized by a poor prognosis. As they are usually excluded from clinical trials, the EAP offered an opportunity to evaluate nivolumab efficacy and safety in these patients outside of a controlled clinical trial in Italy.

      Method:
      Nivolumab was available upon physician request for pts aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of non-Sq-NSCLC who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV non-Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks to a maximum of 24 months. Pts included in the analysis had received ≥ 1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Pts with brain metastasis were eligible if asymptomatic, neurologically stable and either off corticosteroids or on a stable dose or decreasing dose of ≤ 10 mg daily prednisone.

      Result:
      Out of 1588 patients with non-Sq-NSCLC participating in the EAP in Italy, 409 (26%) had asymptomatic and controlled secondary brain metastases. Pts received a median number of 7 doses (1-45) and had a median follow-up of 6.1 months (0.1-21.9). The disease control rate was 40%, including 3 pts with a complete response, 65 pts with a partial response and 96 with stable disease. Among these pts, 118 were receiving steroid therapy at baseline and 74 received concomitant radiotherapy. As of March 2017, median overall survival of this subpopulation was 8.1 months (6.2-10.1). Overall, among pts with brain metastasis, 337 discontinued treatment for any reason, with only 23 (7%) pts who discontinued treatment due to adverse events, in line with what observed in the general population and in previous studies.

      Conclusion:
      These data confirmed the activity of nivolumab in patients with non-Sq-NSCLC and brain metastases, supporting the use of nivolumab in this population with poor prognosis. Moreover, as already observed in other tumor types, safety results were consistent to what already reported and confirmed the favorable safety profile.

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    P2.02 - Biology/Pathology (ID 616)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Poster Session with Presenters Present
    • Track: Biology/Pathology
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.02-065 - RanBP9 is a Novel Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker for NSCLC and Affects Cellular Response to Cisplatin and PARP Inhibitors  (ID 10002)

      09:30 - 16:00  |  Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract

      Background:
      We have previously demonstrated the involvement of Ran Binding Protein 9 (RanBP9) in the DNA Damage Response (DDR) in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cells. Here, we investigate its role in response to DNA-damaging agents in vitro and as prognostic and predictive biomarker for NSCLC patients.

      Method:
      First, by IHC, we evaluated RanBP9 expression in tumor vs normal adjacent tissue (NAT). Then, we generated A549 RanBP9 WT and KO NSCLC cells using CRISPR/Cas9. We treated A549 RanBP9 WT and KO with cisplatin (CDDP) and PARP inhibitors. We assessed response to treatment by measuring cell toxicity, apoptosis and proliferation. Finally, we determined the expression of RanBP9 in cohort of NSCLC patients previously enrolled in the TAILOR trial.

      Result:
      In the present study, we report that significant overexpression of RanBP9 is a common event in lung cancer, as shown by an extensive immunohistochemical analysis of RanBP9 levels in 148 lung tumors of different histotypes and their normal adjacent tissue (p<0.02 - 0.001). RanBP9 expression was maintained/acquired in the nodal metastasis from 30 NSCLC patients, indicating its potential involvement in tumor aggressiveness. We also show that RanBP9 KO A549 NSCLC cell lines display a reduced DDR and higher levels of apoptosis upon cisplatin treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, a retrospective analysis of 134 NSCLC patients revealed that higher levels of RanBP9 are associated with tumor stage (p<0.0001), and low response to platinum compounds as first-line treatment (PFS, HR~ (RanBP9 positive versus negative)~ 1.71, 95% CI 1.142 - 2.563, p = 0.0093; OS HR~ (RanBP9 + vs -) ~1.942, 95% CI 1.243-3.033, p=0.0036). Finally, we show that ablation of RanBP9 is associated with overactivation of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) and increases sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. Moreover, that use of PARP inhibitors enhances cisplatin anti-neoplastic efficacy in the absence of RanBP9.

      Conclusion:
      We identified RanBP9 as a novel predictive biomarker of response to genotoxic treatments in NSCLC patients. We also report that RanBP9 affects the response of NSCLC cells to PARP inhibitors in vitro. Our results open new avenues for the treatment of NSCLC patients based on their level of expression of RanBP9.

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    P2.09 - Mesothelioma (ID 710)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Poster Session with Presenters Present
    • Track: Mesothelioma
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.09-001a - TNM or Tumor Volume for Predicting Prognosis in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Still an Open Debate (ID 10192)

      09:30 - 16:00  |  Presenting Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor. Age, stage (TNM) and histotype are the only recognized prognostic factors but the site of disease makes staging difficult to be defined. Pleural tumor volume (TV) was suggested as an alternative in prognostic evaluation but the evidence is limited. The aim of our study was to assess the prognostic role of TV compared to that of the TNM.

      Method:
      Fifty-two MPM patients (pts), diagnosed in 2002-012, were retrospectively collected. A baseline CT scan was performed. Stage was defined according to TNM (7th edition) and TV was calculated using a dedicated computer system. We divided pts in 2 groups according to mean value of baseline TV(483 cm3 ; range 18-2329 cm3). Information on age, sex, histology, and surgery were collected. We evaluated disease site based on the pleural localization: mediastinal-diaphragmatic-parietal. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were performed on OS to determine significant prognostic factors. Cox regression analysis adjusted for the prognostic factors was used for investigating their effect on OS.

      Result:
      Thirty-five pts were men; mean age was 62 years (range:25-74). Forty-four pts had epithelioid and 8 had mixed histology. Twenty-five pts had radical surgery. Six pts were diagnosed in early stage(I-II), 20 in III stage and 26 in IV stage. Median overall survival(OS) was 20.8 months (range:0.3–94.3). OS was significantly associated to: TV, stage (I-II, III, IV), T (T1,1B;T2;T3;T4,4B). Cox models adjusted by age, histology, sex, surgery, were used for investigating the effect of stage group and T separately on OS to avoid multicollinearity. The effect of mean TV on OS was evaluated with the Cox regression adding the number of involved sites to the above covariates. Cox regression analysis showed that: stage III (HR 3.75,95%CI 0.99-14.18;p<0.05) and IV (HR 5.43, 95%CI 1.43-20.68; p<0.01) were predictive of survival. With respect to extent of tumor, T3 and T4 were associated with worse prognosis (HR 4.99, 95%CI 1.84-13.49; p<0.002; HR 4.65, 95%CI 1.61-13.47; p<0.005 respectively). Smaller TV was associated with better survival (HR=2.37, 95%CI 1.05-5.37; p<0.04) irrespective of tumor site.

      Conclusion:
      We reported a significant association between TV and prognosis. However, stage and T seem to be better prognostic factors compared to TV most likely because they provide information also on adjacent organs infiltration. Our results should be interpreted with caution, considering the retrospective nature of our series and the small sample. Further collaborative studies are needed.

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    P3.07 - Immunology and Immunotherapy (ID 723)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Poster Session with Presenters Present
    • Track: Immunology and Immunotherapy
    • Presentations: 1
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      P3.07-012 - Nivolumab Versus Docetaxel in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Liver Metastases (ID 8484)

      09:30 - 16:00  |  Author(s): Marina Chiara Garassino

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background:
      Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have metastasis to the liver have poor prognosis. The phase 3 trials CheckMate 017 and 057 demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and a favorable safety profile with nivolumab, an anti-programmed death-1 antibody, versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated advanced squamous and non-squamous NSCLC, respectively. A prior subgroup analysis from these trials evaluated and demonstrated efficacy and safety with nivolumab in patients with asymptomatic central nervous system metastases (Goldman J. ASCO 2016). Here we report subgroup analyses from these trials of patients with baseline liver metastases.

      Method:
      In both trials, patients were randomized 1:1 to nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or docetaxel 75 mg/m[2] every 3 weeks until progression or discontinuation. The primary endpoint of each study was OS. Patients from CheckMate 017 and 057 with baseline liver metastases reported as either target or non-target lesions were identified and pooled across studies by treatment.

      Result:
      Baseline characteristics were generally similar between patients with liver metastases randomized to nivolumab (n=99) and docetaxel (n=94). In the nivolumab group, 26% of patients had squamous and 74% had non-squamous NSCLC; in the docetaxel group, 36% had squamous and 64% had non-squamous NSCLC. The minimum follow-up was 24.2 months (Feb 2016 database locks). Nivolumab resulted in improved OS compared with docetaxel in patients with liver metastases (hazard ratio [HR]=0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50, 0.91), similar to findings from the ITT group (HR=0.72; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.84). Median OS in patients with liver metastases was 6.83 months with nivolumab versus 5.93 months with docetaxel, both of which were lower than those observed in the overall pooled intent-to-treat (ITT) population (11.14 months vs 8.11 months). Two-year OS rates were 18% with nivolumab versus 6% with docetaxel in patients with liver metastases. Rates of grade 3−4 treatment-related adverse events in patients with liver metastases were lower with nivolumab compared with docetaxel (7% vs 53%), and similar to those in the ITT population (10% vs 55%).

      Conclusion:
      The lower median OS observed in this subgroup of patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC and baseline liver metastases corroborates previous findings that metastasis to the liver is an unfavorable prognostic factor. However, nivolumab demonstrated sustained OS benefit versus docetaxel in these patients, similar to the ITT population. The safety profile of nivolumab was favorable versus docetaxel in this subgroup, with no new safety concerns identified.

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