Eric Siegel

Randomized Phase II Trial of Carboplatin–Paclitaxel Compared with Carboplatin–Paclitaxel–Trastuzumab in Advanced (Stage III–IV) or Recurrent Uterine Serous Carcinomas that Overexpress Her2/Neu (NCT01367002): Updated Overall Survival Analysis

Abstract Purpose: Uterine-serous-carcinoma (USC) is an aggressive variant of endometrial cancer. On the basis of preliminary results of a multicenter, randomized phase II trial, trastuzumab (T), a humanized-mAb targeting Her2/Neu, in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel (C/P), is recognized as an alternative in treating advanced/recurrent HER2/Neu-positive USC. We report the updated survival analysis of NCT01367002. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had stage III to IV or recurrent disease. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive C/P for six cycles ± T followed by maintenance T until progression or toxicity. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint; overall survival (OS) and toxicity were secondary endpoints. Results: Sixty-one patients were randomized. After a median-follow-up of 25.9 months, 43 progressions and 38 deaths occurred among 58 evaluable patients. Updated median-PFS continued to favor the T-arm, with medians of 8.0 months versus 12.9 months in the control and T-arms (HR = 0.46; 90% CI, 0.28–0.76; P = 0.005). Median-PFS was 9.3 months versus 17.7 months among 41 patients with stage III to IV disease undergoing primary treatment (HR = 0.44; 90% CI, 0.23–0.83; P = 0.015), and 7.0 months versus 9.2 months among 17 patients with recurrent disease (HR = 0.12; 90% CI, 0.03–0.48; P = 0.004). OS was higher in the T compared with the control arm, with medians of 29.6 months versus 24.4 months (HR = 0.58; 90% CI, 0.34–0.99; P = 0.046). The benefit was most notable in those with stage III to IV disease, with survival median not reached in the T-arm versus 24.4 months in the control arm (HR = 0.49; 90% CI, 0.25–0.97; P = 0.041). Toxicity was not different between arms. Conclusions: Addition of T to C/P increased PFS and OS in women with advanced/recurrent HER2/Neu-positive USC, with the greatest benefit seen for the treatment of stage III to IV disease.

Integrated mutational landscape analysis of poorly differentiated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix

High-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancers (NETc) are exceedingly rare, highly aggressive tumors. We analyzed 64 NETc tumor samples by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 65.6% (42/64) of the tumors. Recurrent mutations were identified in PIK3CA, KMT2D/MLL2, K-RAS, ARID1A, NOTCH2, and RPL10. The top mutated genes included RB1, ARID1A, PTEN, KMT2D / MLL2, and WDFY3, a gene not yet implicated in NETc. Somatic CNV analysis identified two copy number gains (3q27.1 and 19q13.12) and five copy number losses (1p36.21/5q31.3/6p22.2/9q21.11/11p15.5). Also, gene fusions affecting the ACLY-CRHR1 and PVT1-MYC genes were identified in one of the eight samples subjected to RNA sequencing. To resolve evolutionary history, multiregion WES in NETc admixed with adenocarcinoma cells was performed (i.e., mixed-NETc). Phylogenetic analysis of mixed-NETc demonstrated that adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine elements derive from a common precursor with mutations typical of adenocarcinomas. Over one-third (22/64) of NETc demonstrated a mutator phenotype of C > T at CpG consistent with deficiencies in MBD4 , a member of the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Mutations in the PI3K/AMPK pathways were identified in 49/64 samples. We used two patient-derived-xenografts (PDX) (i.e., NET19 and NET21) to evaluate the activity of pan-HER (afatinib), PIK3CA (copanlisib), and ATR (elimusertib) inhibitors, alone and in combination. PDXs harboring alterations in the ERBB2/PI3K/AKT/mTOR/ATR pathway were sensitive to afatinib, copanlisib, and elimusertib ( P < 0.001 vs. controls). However, combinations of copanlisib/afatinib and copanlisib/elimusertib were significantly more effective in controlling NETc tumor growth. These findings define the genetic landscape of NETc and suggest that a large subset of these highly lethal malignancies might benefit from existing targeted therapies.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Imiquimod with or without 9-Valent HPV Vaccine versus Observation in Patients with High-grade Pre-neoplastic Cervical Lesions (NCT02864147)

Abstract Purpose: We report the results of a randomized phase II trial of imiquimod, a topical immune-response modulator versus imiquimod plus a 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (9vHPV) versus clinical surveillance in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3) patients. Patients and Methods: We randomly allocated 133 patients with untreated CIN2/3 in equal proportions to a 4-month treatment with self-applied vaginal suppositories containing imiquimod (Arm B) or imiquimod plus a 9vHPV (Arm C) versus clinical surveillance (Arm A). The main outcome was efficacy, defined as histologic regression to CIN1 or less. Secondary outcomes were HPV clearance and tolerability. Exploratory objectives included the comparison of cervical CD4/CD8 T-cell infiltration at baseline, mid-study, and posttreatment by flow cytometry among study arms. Results: Of the 114 evaluable patients 77% and 23% harbored CIN2 and CIN3, respectively. Regression to CIN1 or less was observed in 95% of patients in the imiquimod group (Arm B) compared with 79% in the control/surveillance (Arm A); P = 0.043 and 84% in the imiquimod+9vHPV group (Arm C; P = 0.384 vs. Arm A). Neither of the treatment-arm differences from Arm A reached the prespecified α = 0.025 significance level. No significant differences were noted in the secondary outcome of rate of HPV clearance. The number of tissue-resident memory CD4/CD8 T cells in cytobrush samples demonstrated a >5-fold increase in Arm B/imiquimod when compared with Arm A/surveillance (P < 0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference in T-cell responses among participants in Arm C when compared with Arm A. Imiquimod treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions: Although imiquimod induced a higher regression to CIN1 or less and significant increases in CD4/CD8 T cells infiltrating the cervix, it did not meet its prespecified statistical outcome for efficacy. A higher regression rate than expected was observed in the surveillance arm of this prospective trial. Future clinical trials with imiquimod targeting CIN3 patients are warranted.

Evaluation of Carboplatin/Paclitaxel With and Without Trastuzumab (Herceptin) in Uterine Serous Cancer

The primary objective of this study is to estimate whether the addition of trastuzumab to paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy improves progression free survival when compared to paclitaxel and carboplatin alone in Uterine Serous Papillary Carcinoma (USPC) patients overexpressing Her2/neu at 3+ level by immunohistochemistry (IHC)or positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).