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Ana Blasco



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    MA04 - Models and Biomarkers (ID 122)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Mini Oral Session
    • Track: Biology
    • Presentations: 1
    • Now Available
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      MA04.03 - Lung Tumorspheres Characterization Reveals Cancer Stem-Like Cells Potential Targets and Prognostic Markers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Now Available) (ID 2269)

      13:30 - 15:00  |  Author(s): Ana Blasco

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background

      Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death cancer-related worldwide due to late diagnosis and high resistance against treatments. This resistance has been associated to cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), a highly tumorigenic subpopulation for which the identification of targets and biomarkers is still under development.

      Method

      Tissue samples from 8 NSCLC patients were successfully established and cultured using a sphere-forming assay for CSCs enrichment. Adherent counterparts were used as differentiated control cells. Proliferation, chemorresistance, invasion and differentiation capacities were tested in vitro, whereas tumor initiation capacity was determined in vivo. The expression of 44 CSCs-related genes was assessed by qPCR and protein expression of the best contributors to distinguish adherent cells from tumorspheres was determined by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. The prognostic role of these genes was evaluated in a cohort of 661 resected NSCLC patients from TCGA and validated in an independent cohort of 114 resected lung adenocarcinoma patients.

      Result

      Patient-derived tumorspheres showed unlimited exponential growth, high resistance against chemotherapy, great invasion and differentiation capacities in vitro in addition to a higher tumorigenic potential than adherent cells in vivo. The expression of 17 genes was significantly overexpressed in lung tumorspheres, being NANOG, NOTCH3, CD44, CDKN1A, SNAI1, and ITGA6 the best contributors. Proteins encoded by these genes were consistently increased in tumorspheres from adenocarcinoma patients and showed differential localization and expression patterns. The expression of CDKN1A, SNAI1 and ITGA6 was associated to prognosis based on Cox regression analysis (Z-score > 1.5), so their absolute regression coefficients from a multivariate model were used to calculate a gene expression score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high score have shorter OS in the entire cohort [37.7 vs. 60.4 mo., p = 0.001] and the adenocarcinoma subcohort [36.6 vs. 53.5 mo., p = 0.003], but not in squamous cell carcinoma one. Multivariate analysis indicated that this gene expression score was an independent biomarker of prognosis for OS in both, the entire cohort [HR: 1.498; 95% CI, 1.167-1.922; p = 0.001] and the adenocarcinoma subcohort [HR: 1.869; 95% CI, 1.275-2.738; p = 0.001]. The prognostic value of this score was confirmed in an independent cohort of 114 lung adenocarcinoma patients (42.90 vs. NR mo, p = 0.020).

      Conclusion

      Proteins encoded by NANOG, NOTCH3, CD44, CDKN1A, SNAI1, and ITGA6 are potential targets against lung CSCs. Elevated gene expression levels of CDKN1A, SNAI1 and ITGA6 are associated with worse prognosis.

      Funded by CB16/12/00350 from CIBEROnc, PI12-02838, and PI15-00753 from ISCIII and Fundacion Arnal Planelles.

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    MA22 - Partnering with Patients to Understand Stigma, Disparities and Values Leading to Improved Lung Cancer Care (ID 154)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Mini Oral Session
    • Track: Advocacy
    • Presentations: 1
    • Now Available
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      MA22.05 - Assessment of Gender Differences in the Psychosocial and Economic Impact on Patients with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Now Available) (ID 718)

      15:45 - 17:15  |  Author(s): Ana Blasco

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background

      Incidence of lung cancer in women is rising overtime reporting evident gender-based differences in epidemiology, biology, and treatment outcome. However, little is known about gender-differences regarding psychological, economic and social aspects. The objectives of this prospective study are to evaluate the psychosocial and economic impact of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to gender. Additionally, to assess the emotional burden and the economic impact of the disease on the primary caregiver from a gender perspective

      Method

      Multicenter, prospective, observational, study of two cohorts of patients with metastatic NSCLC (male and female) in Oncology departments of 20 Spanish hospitals. The following measurement tools were used: the APGAR questionnaire (family functionality: adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve), the Relationship impact scale, the DUKE-UNC scale (perceived socio-affective support), the patient and the caregiver economic impact scale and the Zarit scale (caregiver burden). All questionnaires were performed at the first visit, repeated 4 months later and following the first and second disease progression.

      Result

      Of the 333 pts included, 104 were females and 229 male, of whom 63% and 97%, respectively, were smokers/ex-smokers (p=0.0001). More women than men (85% vs 70%) had adenocarcinomas . The median overall survival was longer in women but did not reach statistical significance [17.1 vs 11.0 months, HR 0.732 (95% CI 0.534 to 1.005), p=0.0524]. Most families considered themselves functional (high score in APGAR questionnaire) with no changes in their partner relationship and social support was evaluated as optimal for majority of patients. Around a quarter of interviewed patients said their economic situation was a little worse after the lung cancer diagnosis, without remarkable differences by gender. Statistically significant differences were found between both groups regarding the caregiver´s relationship to the patient (more parents were the caregiver in females than in males) (p <0.0001) and the caregiver’s employment situation (more employed caregivers in females) (p<0.0001). Most caregivers of both sexes considered that taking care of their relative did not pose a significant burden. No remarkable differences by gender were found between the different variables across the study.

      Conclusion

      This study provides a preliminary insight into gender-related characteristics in the management of advanced NSCLC and its impact on the emotional, social and economic burden of patients and their caregivers, and recall the high priority of researching in cancer from a gender perspective

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    P1.01 - Advanced NSCLC (ID 158)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 09:45 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      P1.01-111 - ATEZO-BRAIN, A Single-Arm Phase II Study of Atezolizumab Combined with Chemotherapy in Stage IV NSCLC Patients with Untreated Brain Metastases (ID 733)

      09:45 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Ana Blasco

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      Brain metastases (BM) are a frequent complication in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have significant impact on quality of life and are associated with poor prognosis. Systemic therapies might be an alternative approach to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) to avoid cognitive-related adverse events. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) showed intracranial activity in advanced NSCLC patients with BM. However clinical data about efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy in patients with untreated BM are limited and further research in this setting is needed. We hypothesize that addition of ICI to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy may increase intracranial tumor response and provide clinically relevant benefit in terms of PFS, OS and quality of life to the patients with asymptomatic and non-previously treated BM.

      Method

      This is an ongoing multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase 2 study (EUDRACT: 2017-005154-11) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab 1200 mg combined with 4-6 cycles of carboplatin AUC 5 and pemetrexed 500mg/m2 every 3 weeks followed by maintenance with atezolizumab 1200 mg plus pemetrexed 500mg/m2 every 3 weeks in stage IV non-squamous NSCLC patients with untreated synchronous BM. Patients should have multiple and measurable BM, adequate performance status and organic function, do not harbor EGFR or ALK genomic alterations, be treatment naïve and do not have any contraindication to receive immunotherapy. Exclusion criteria consist of active neurological symptoms, dexamethasone dose ≥ 4 mg QD, prior treatment with brain radiotherapy, presence of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, spinal or hemorrhagic metastases in the central nervous system. Primary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS) at 12 weeks according to RANO-BM and RECIST v1.1 criteria and safety based on CTCAE v4. Both primary endpoints will be assessed in 40 patients in 15 sites using a Bayesian approach. Patients will undergo tumor assessments by body CT scan and brain MRI at baseline every 6 weeks for the first 12 weeks and thereafter tumor assessments will be performed every 9 weeks until disease progression or loss of clinical benefit. Secondary endpoints: intracranial and systemic objective response rate and duration of response. Exploratory endpoints: to assess neurocognitive function and quality of life; to determine time to neurological deterioration and time to need of salvage brain radiotherapy. Enrollment started on August 2018 and currently 12 patients have been included in the study.

      Result

      Clinical trial in progress

      Conclusion

      Clinical trial in progress

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    P2.03 - Biology (ID 162)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Biology
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/09/2019, 10:15 - 18:15, Exhibit Hall
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      P2.03-16 - Agreement Between Different Methodologies for Non-Invasive p.T790M and EGFR Sensitizing Mutation Testing (ID 1965)

      10:15 - 18:15  |  Author(s): Ana Blasco

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the current standard of care for patients with advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most patients progressed within 1 to 2 years. The EGFR p.T790M mutation is the most common resistance mechanism to first and second generation EGFR TKIs. The identification of p.T790M mutation is of considerable clinical relevance as osimertinib has demonstrated clinical efficacy in this setting. Guidelines recommend testing for the p.T790M mutation in blood at relapse to TKIs, and re-biopsy only in case of a negative result. Several blood based methodologies for detection of EGFR mutations have been developed in the recent years. However, the number of comparison studies between platforms is very limited.

      Method

      This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03363139) performed by the Spanish Lung Cancer Group. Samples from 75 consecutive EGFR mutant NSCLC patients were collected at disease progression to first line TKI treatment. The presence of EGFR mutations in the cfDNA was evaluated in 39 samples by 7 methodologies, namely: Cobas® EGFR Mutation Test v2 (Roche Diagnostics), Therascreen EGFR Plasma RGQ PCR Kit (Qiagen), QuantStudio® 3D Digital PCR System (Thermofisher), a 5′-nuclease real-time PCR (TaqMan®) assay in presence of PNA, OncoBEAM EGFR (Sysmex Inostics), NGS with two different gene panels: Oncomine® (Thermofisher) and Lung Cancer Panel (Qiagen). The agreement between methodologies was assessed using the kappa coefficient (K) and its corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). For quantitative variables the concordance correlation coefficient (ccc) was used.

      Result

      Complete results are available for 39 patients. Overall, the agreement between all methodologies for the detection of p.T790M mutation as well as the original EGFR sensitizing mutation was good (K=0.669; 95CI: 0.504-0.835 and K=0.750 95CI: 0.599-0.899 respectively). Remarkably, the agreement between FDA-approved methodologies for p.T790M detection was almost perfect (K=0.926; 95CI: 0.712-1) and good for the EGFR sensitizing mutations (K=0.657; 95CI: 0.417-0.902). Similarly, the agreement between NGS-based methodologies for the detection of p.T790M and the EGFR activating mutations was very high (K=0.843; 95CI: 0.567-1 and K=0.872 95CI: 0.595-1 respectively). Moreover, concordance between both technologies for p.T790M and EGFR sensitizing mutation mutant allele frequency was excellent (ccc=0.956; 95CI: 0.906-1 and ccc=0.980 95CI: 0.950-1 respectively). The proportion of samples that were positive for p.T790M detection varied from 28% (PCR based technologies) to 37% depending on the methodology.

      Conclusion

      NGS and PCR-based methodologies show a good to excellent agreement for the detection of EGFR mutations, including the p.T790M. Our results support the use of liquid biopsies for non-invasive testing of clinically relevant mutations (Data from the whole cohort will be presented at the meeting).

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