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Jenny Ávila



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    EP1.04 - Immuno-oncology (ID 194)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: E-Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Immuno-oncology
    • Presentations: 2
    • Now Available
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 08:00 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      EP1.04-44 - Exploration of Factors Relating to Paradoxical Immune Response in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for NSCLC (Now Available) (ID 2634)

      08:00 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      Although the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has yielded substantial benefits in terms of survival in the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the possibility of activation of dormant autoimmune diseases or onset of immune mediated toxicities is a reality. The objective of this study was to explore intrinsic immunological factors associated with poor outcomes.

      Method

      In a retrospective cohort study of 48 patients, without any prior medical history of autoimmunity, treated for advanced/metastatic NSCLC with ICI´s were assessed. Determination of HLA-A*02011 as well as acute phase reactants and antiphospholipid antibodies was performed. Additionally, evaluation of survival in a time to event manner was conducted using the Kaplan Meier method and Cox regressions

      Result

      Median follow-up was 27.3 months, of the included patients 26 were male (54%) with a median age of 62 years old and there were no individuals with and ECOG performance score >1. Median overall survival (OS) was reached at 22.47 months. When analyzing the presence of the HLA-A*02011 serotype, 6 patients tested positive (12.5%). Additionally, all presented with borderline or abnormal B2glycoprotein IgM and IgG, 2Bmicroglubulin and elevated C reactive protein. Four patients (66%) experienced reactive lymphadenopathy during treatment and all suffered some form of venous thromboembolism. When analyzing OS, this group of patients had a significantly worse outcome (6.53 vs 22.47 months, HR= 4.47, [95%CI 1.47 – 13.61], p<0.001) compared with their counterparts. Overall response rate for the whole was superior for the HLA-A*02011 positive patients achieving 41.4% and 33%, p<0.001, respectively.

      Conclusion

      The presence of the HLA-A*02011 could potentially predispose to a paradoxical and pathological activation of the immune system without offering any benefit in terms of tumor control. Larger studies validating these findings are warranted.

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      EP1.04-45 - Relevance of Antibiotic Use on Clinical Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hispanic Patients with Advanced NSCLC (CLICAP-ABs) (Now Available) (ID 2674)

      08:00 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      The composition of gut microbiota affects antitumor immune responses, as well as preclinical and clinical outcomes following immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in cancer. Antibiotics (ATB) alter gut microbiota diversity and composition leading to dysbiosis, which may influence the effectiveness of ICI.

      Method

      We examined patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 mAb monotherapy alone or in combination in three different countries of Latin America. Those receiving ATB within 30 days of beginning ICI were compared with those who did not. Objective response, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.

      Result

      18 of 140 (13%) NSCLC patients received ATB. The most commonly used ATB were b-lactam or quinolones for pneumonia or urinary tract infections. In NSCLC patients, ATB was associated with 4 cases of primary PD (28.6% versus 31.5%, P=0.818), non-significant decreased PFS (median 2.66 versus 1.94 months, HR 1.63, [95% CI 0.71-3.72], P=0.247) and significantly deleterious OS (median 12.42 versus 2.04 months, HR 2.3, [95% CI 1.08-4.95], P=0.03). In multivariate analyses, the impact of ATB remained significant for OS.

      Conclusion

      ATB were associated with reduced clinical benefit from ICI in Hispanic patients with NSCLC. Modulation of ATB-related dysbiosis and gut microbiota composition may be a strategy to improve clinical outcomes with ICI.

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    EP1.15 - Thymoma/Other Thoracic Malignancies (ID 205)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: E-Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Thymoma/Other Thoracic Malignancies
    • Presentations: 2
    • Now Available
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 08:00 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      EP1.15-28 - Survival of Thymoma Is Extensive in Latin-American Patients: Results from Over 10 Years of Experience (CLICaP-LATimus) (ID 2936)

      08:00 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract

      Background

      Thymomas are a group of rare neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum. Due to their low incidence, large cooperative studies are required to evaluate outcomes. The objective of this study is to present the results and experience in treatment of this pathology in Latin-America.

      Method

      A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted by The Latin-American Consortium for the Investigation of Lung Cancer (CLICaP). Patients with histologically proven thymomas between 1997 and 2018 were included in the analysis. Variables including clinical, pathological and therapeutic outcomes were registered in a centralized manner.

      Result

      A total of 105 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 54 years old (20-84), and with 60% (n = 38) of the included patients were female. Only 11% (n=7) of the patients had an ECOG performance score >1. Twenty-four patients (22.9%, 95%CI 14.8-30.9) presented with pulmonary or distant metastatic involvement with a median of 2 metastatic sites. Furthermore, 21.9 % of patients (n=23, 95%CI 13.9-29.8%) concurrently presented myasthenia gravis. Surgery was performed in 55 patients (52.3%, 95%CI 42.8 – 61.9%), comprising of 15 tumorectomies, 37 thymectomies and 5 biopsies achieving an R0 resection rate of 78% (95%CI 67.3-89.1%). Adjuvant treatment in the form of either chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both was offered to 3(5%), 7(12.7%) and 5(9%) patients, respectively. Disease progression was documented in 10 cases (9%, 95%CI3.9-15.1%) of which 6 (60%) were locoregional, 1 (10%) distant progression and 3 (30%) both locoregional and distant. Median overall survival (OS) was estimated at around 139.5 months (95%CI 86.1-NA). Cox regression indicated that OS was significantly improved by resection (139.5 vs 25.7 months, HR 4.17 [95%CI 12.6-17.8 months]).

      Conclusion

      Survival in patients with thymomas continues to be very favorable, especially in patients who receive adequate local control. The benefit of adjuvant treatment in this setting remains unclear.

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      EP1.15-29 - Real World Characterization and Treatment of Patients with Thymic Carcinoma: Lessons from a Latin-American Study (CLICaP-LATimus) (Now Available) (ID 2921)

      08:00 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      Thymic carcinoma is a rare tumor that represents a clinical challenge, especially in resource limited settings. The objective of the present study was to characterize patients who presented this disease in Latin-America.

      Method

      From 2014 until 2018, a multinational Latin-American cooperative retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients with histologically confirmed thymic carcinoma were included. Clinical, pathological and treatment variables were collected across 7 participating nations.

      Result

      A total of 31 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 58 years old (34-69), 48% (n=15) of individuals were women with all but 2 patients (6.5%) achieving an ECOG performance score <2. All patients debuted with Stage IV disease; 24 patients (66%, [95%CI 62-92%]) as stage IVa and 7 as stage IVb (33%, [95%CI 7-37%]) with a median LDH level of 396.5 U/L (153-1529 U/L) and a median of 2 metastatic sites. 13 (41.9%, [95%CI 25-59%]) patients received preoperatory treatment consisting of chemotherapy (n=8, 42%) and chemoradiotherapy (n=5, 16%). Among these patients only 4 (12.9%) were subjected to surgery, two of which underwent a tumorectomy and 2 a thymectomy. 28 (90%, [95%CI 79.9-100%]) received palliative chemotherapy either with sunitinib (n=7, 25%) or cytotoxic agents. Median overall survival (OS) was reached at 20.2 months (95%CI 19-NA months). Patients who received preoperative treatment had a significantly prolonged OS (17.6 vs 26 months, HR 2.93 [95%CI 1.04-8.27 months], p = 0.03).

      Conclusion

      Thymic carcinoma constitutes an aggressive disease that is often diagnosed in advanced stages. These results suggest that multimodal treatment can be beneficial even in locally advanced cases. Larger clinical trial validating these conclusions are warranted.

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    P1.04 - Immuno-oncology (ID 164)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Immuno-oncology
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 09:45 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      P1.04-80 - Immunotherapy-Related Thrombosis: Considerations and Associated Factors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients (ID 2724)

      09:45 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract

      Background

      Widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of lung cancer has exposed a large number of patients to these medications, increasing the incidence of rare adverse reactions such as thromboses. The present study elaborates on factors related to the occurrence of these events.

      Method

      In a retrospective cohort study, a total of 48 patients, 24 who experienced thrombosis and 24 matched controls who underwent evaluation after initiation of ICIs therapy for advanced/metastatic NSCLC, were included. Clinical and pathological as well as serum inflammatory and coagulation markers were evaluated.

      Result

      Among the 48 patients, 46% (n=26) were female, median age was 62 years old and all patients had an ECOG performance score of < 2. The median overall survival reached by the cohort was 22.47 months. Among patients who developed thrombosis there were 8 cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (33%), 13 pulmonary embolisms in addition to DVT (62.5%) and 1 case of brain venous sinus thrombosis (4.2%). Apart from expected thrombosis markers such as D dimer, differences in inflammatory and immune related markers between patients who experienced thrombosis and those who did not, were observed. Abnormal values were found in the thrombosis group for B2glycoprotein 1 (33% vs 0%, OR= 4.08, [95%CI 1.65 - 12.1], p= 0.005), B2glycoprotein 1 IgG (29.2% vs 0%, OR= 4.64, [95%CI 1.73 – 16.9], p= 0.007), C Reactive protein (83.3% vs 12.5%, OR= 35, [95%CI 7.9 - 213], p< 0.001), B2microglobulin (62.5% vs 8.3%, OR= 14, [95%CI 3.11-103.7], p = 0.002), Prothrombin time (41.7% vs 4.2%, OR= 2.4, [95%CI 1.64 -3.69], p =0.01) and C Coagulation protein (50% vs 16.6%, OR =1.79, [95%CI 1.53 – 2.91], p <0.001).

      Conclusion

      Abnormalities in antiphospholipid antibodies, C reactive protein, B2microglobulin and coagulation in patients who suffered thrombosis during ICI treatment suggest that this phenomenon could be the result of immune and auto-inflammatory induced intravascular dysfunction.

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    P1.14 - Targeted Therapy (ID 182)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Targeted Therapy
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 09:45 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      P1.14-61 - EGFR Inhibitors Plus Bevacizumab Are Superior Compared to EGFR Inhibitor Monotherapy in Advanced EGFR+ NSCLC Patients with BIM Deletions (ID 2697)

      09:45 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Jenny Ávila

      • Abstract

      Background

      BIM activation is essential for EGFR-TKIs triggered apoptosis in EGFR-mutant Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A 2903-bp germline deletion in intron 2 of the BIM gene results in generation of alternatively spliced isoforms that lack the crucial BH3 domain, impairing the apoptotic response to TKIs and conferring NSCLC cells intrinsic resistance to these medications. Patients with both alterations have poor clinical evolution. The current study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of EGFR-TKIs plus bevacizumab (Bev) versus EGFR-TKIs alone as first-line treatment in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and BIM deletions (BIMdel).

      Method

      A retrospective analysis was conducted. BIMdel was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and direct sequencing of DNA from tumor and peripheral blood cells (PBCs). We also assessed BIM protein expression by immunohistochemistry and BIM mRNA levels by RT-PCR. Clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS), progression-free-survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and treatment-related adverse events were compared in the EGFR-TKIs versus EGFR-TKIs plus Bev groups.

      Result

      32 patients were included; 16 of them received EGFR-TKIs and 18 received EGFR-TKIs plus Bev. The addition of Bev resulted in a significantly higher ORR compared with TKIs alone (94% vs. 44%, p=0.0014). Median PFS was longer with the use of the combination compared with TKIs alone (11.1 vs. 7.77 months; p < 0.001). Median OS tended to be longer in the EGFR-TKIs plus Bev group than in TKIs alone (30.9 vs. 25.4 months; p = 0.06). EGFR-TKIs plus Bev was associated with more grade >3 hematological and thrombotic adverse events. The expression of BIM by immunohistochemistry did not influence PFS and OS, however when stratifying BIM mRNA levels by the median (≥2.2 vs. <2.1) allowed to find a prognostic trend in favor of those with higher BIM mRNA levels (32.2 vs. 25.2 months respectively; p = 0.058).

      Conclusion

      EGFR-TKIs plus Bev conferred a significantly higher ORR and PFS in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation and BIMdel. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.