scholarly journals Detection of Molecular Residual Disease Using Personalized Circulating Tumor DNA Assay in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Resection of Metastases

2021 ◽  
pp. 1166-1177
Author(s):  
Fotios Loupakis ◽  
Shruti Sharma ◽  
Madiha Derouazi ◽  
Sabina Murgioni ◽  
Paola Biason ◽  
...  

PURPOSE More than 50% of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (metastatic colorectal cancer [mCRC]) relapse postresection. The efficacy of postoperative systemic treatment is limited in this setting. Thus, these patients would greatly benefit from the use of a reliable prognostic biomarker, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to identify minimal or molecular residual disease (MRD). PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed a cohort of 112 patients with mCRC who had undergone metastatic resection with curative intent as part of the PREDATOR clinical trial. The study evaluated the prognostic value of ctDNA, correlating MRD status postsurgery with clinical outcomes by using a personalized and tumor-informed ctDNA assay (bespoke multiple PCR, next-generation sequencing assay). Postresection, systemic therapy was given to 39.2% of the patients at the discretion of the treating physician. RESULTS Postsurgical, MRD positivity was observed in 54.4% (61 of 112) of patients, of which 96.7% (59 of 61) progressed at the time of data cutoff (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.8; 95% CI, 3.5 to 9.7; P < .001). MRD-positive status was also associated with an inferior overall survival: HR: 16.0; 95% CI, 3.9 to 68.0; P < .001. At the time of analyses, 96% (49 of 51) of patients were alive in the MRD-negative arm compared with 52.4% (32 of 61) in the MRD-positive arm. Patients who did not receive systemic therapy and were MRD-negative in the combined ctDNA analysis at two time points had an overall survival of 100%. In the multivariate analysis, ctDNA-based MRD status was the most significant prognostic factor associated with disease-free survival (HR: 5.78; 95% CI, 3.34 to 10.0; P < .001). CONCLUSION This study confirms that in mCRC undergoing resection of metastases, postoperative MRD analysis is a strong prognostic biomarker. It holds promises for being implemented in clinical decision making, informing clinical trial design, and further translational research.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3506-3506
Author(s):  
Andrea Sartore-Bianchi ◽  
Filippo Pietrantonio ◽  
Sara Lonardi ◽  
Benedetta Mussolin ◽  
Francesco Rua ◽  
...  

3506 Background: Despite advances in molecular segmentation of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), beyond RAS status therapeutic actionability remains confined to the limited subgroups of ERBB2 amplified, BRAF mutated and MSI-H patients. Optimization of available treatments is therefore warranted. Rechallenge with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies is often empirically used with some benefit as late-line therapy. We previously found that mutant RAS and EGFR ectodomain clones, which emerge in blood during EGFR blockade, decline upon antibody withdrawal leading to regain drug sensitivity. Based on this rationale, we designed CHRONOS, a multicenter phase II trial of anti-EGFR therapy rechallenge guided by monitoring of the mutational status of RAS, BRAF and EGFR in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). To our knowledge, this is the first interventional clinical trial of liquid biopsy for driving anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy in mCRC. Methods: Eligible patients were PS ECOG 0-2 RAS/BRAF WT mCRC having first achieved an objective response and then progression in any treatment line with an anti-EGFR antibody containing regimen, displaying RAS, BRAF and EGFR ectodomain WT status in ctDNA at molecular screening after progression to the last anti-EGFR-free regimen. Clonal evolution in ctDNA was analyzed by ddPCR and next generation sequencing. Panitumumab 6 mg/kg was administered IV every two weeks until progression. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST version 1.1 with independent central review. 27 total patients and 6 responses were required to declare the study positive (power = 85%, type I error = 0.05). Results: Between Aug 19, 2019 and Nov 6, 2020 52 patients were screened by liquid biopsy and 36 (69%) were negative in ctDNA for RAS/BRAF/EGFR mutations. Of these, 27 patients were enrolled in 4 centers. Median age was 64 years (range: 42-80). PS ECOG was 0/50%, 1/46%, 2/4%. Previous anti-EGFR was administered in 1st line in 63%, 2nd in 15% and > 2nd in 22%. Median number of previous treatments was 3. The primary endpoint was met, with 8/27 partial responses (PR) observed (2 unconfirmed) (ORR = 30%, 95% CI: 12-47%). Stable disease (SD) was obtained in 11/27 (40%, 95% CI: 24-59%), lasting > 4 months in 8/11. Disease control rate (PR plus SD > 4 months) was therefore obtained in 16/27 (59%, 95% CI: 41-78%). Median progression-free survival was 16 weeks. Median duration of response was 17 weeks (1 ongoing). Maximal grade toxicity was G3, limited to dermatological and occurring in 19% of patients. ctDNA dynamics were studied in all patients. Conclusions: Liquid biopsy-driven rechallenge with anti-EGFR antibodies leads to further objective responses in one third of patients. Genotyping tumor DNA in the blood to direct therapy can be effectively incorporated in the management of advanced CRCs. Clinical trial information: 2016-002597-12.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3608-3608
Author(s):  
Hiroki Yukami ◽  
Yoshiaki Nakamura ◽  
Jun Watanabe ◽  
Masahito Kotaka ◽  
Kentaro Yamazaki ◽  
...  

3608 Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis can be used to predict the risk of recurrence by detecting molecular residual disease (MRD) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We are conducting a prospective observational study to monitor MRD status in patients with clinical stage II–IV or relapsed CRC amenable to radical surgical resection (GALAXY study), as part of the CIRCULATE-Japan, a nationwide ctDNA-guided precision adjuvant therapy project. Methods: Analysis of ctDNA is being performed at pre- and post-surgery timepoints and will continue periodically for up to 2 years using Signatera, a personalized, tumor-informed ctDNA assay that is designed to track 16 patient-specific somatic variants based on whole-exome sequencing of tumor tissue. The association of peri-operative ctDNA status with clinicopathological characteristics was investigated. Results: As of January 13, 2021, 941 patients have been enrolled in the GALAXY study, of which 400 patients had their pre-operative ctDNA status evaluated. Of the 400 patients, baseline ctDNA was detected in 92% (367/400) of the patients: consisting of 35 patients with pathological stage (pStage) I, 135 with pStage II, 152 with pStage III, and 78 with pStage IV or relapsed disease (pStage IV/R). Patient-specific Signatera assays targeting 16 variants were designed for 100% of the patients. Out of the 6400 designed variants 99.3% passed quality control in the plasma analysis and produced the final results. Among 4425 genes selected for 400 patients, 3330 genes were selected for only one patient, while TP53 was the most commonly selected in 113 patients (28%). Median ctDNA levels, measured in mean tumor molecules per mL of plasma and ctDNA detection rate, stratified by stage are presented in table. Positive ctDNA status post-surgery was significantly associated with advanced pStage, pT and pN, and lymphovascular invasion. Of the 13 patients with recurrence, 10 were detected with a positive ctDNA at 4-weeks post-surgery, before confirmation of recurrence by the radiological imaging. Conclusions: Preoperative ctDNA detection rates were observed to be in >90% in patients with pStage II–III by personalized ctDNA assay based on unique somatic variants, specific to each patient. ctDNA- based MRD detected post-surgery (4W) was significantly associated with certain known clinicopathological factors for recurrence with ctDNA positivity associated with a very short-term of recurrence. Clinical trial information: 000039205. [Table: see text]


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4547
Author(s):  
Jun Gong ◽  
Andrew Hendifar ◽  
Alexandra Gangi ◽  
Karen Zaghiyan ◽  
Katelyn Atkins ◽  
...  

Emerging data suggest that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can detect colorectal cancer (CRC)-specific signals across both non-metastatic and metastatic settings. With the development of multiple platforms, including tumor-informed and tumor-agnostic ctDNA assays and demonstration of their provocative analytic performance to detect minimal residual disease, there are now ongoing, phase III randomized clinical trials to evaluate their role in the management paradigm of CRC. In this review, we highlight landmark studies that have formed the basis for ongoing studies on the clinically applicability of plasma ctDNA assays in resected, stage I–III CRC and metastatic CRC. We discuss clinical settings by which ctDNA may have the most immediate impact in routine clinical practice. These include the potential for ctDNA to (1) guide surveillance and intensification or de-intensification strategies of adjuvant therapy in resected, stage I–III CRC, (2) predict treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer inclusive of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), and (3) predict response to systemic and surgical therapies in metastatic disease. We end by considering clinical variables that can influence our ability to reliably interpret ctDNA dynamics in the clinic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 1424-1429
Author(s):  
Anders K. Boysen ◽  
Niels Pallisgaard ◽  
Christina S. A. Andersen ◽  
Karen-Lise G. Spindler

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS886-TPS886
Author(s):  
Hiromichi Maeda ◽  
Naoki Nagata ◽  
Takeshi Nagasaka ◽  
Koji Oba ◽  
Hideyuki Mishima ◽  
...  

TPS886 Background: The mechanisms underlying the acquired resistance of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) against panitumumab treatment is not fully understood. The efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI with panitumumab as the second-line chemotherapy after failure of FOLFOX with panitumumab treatment has yet to be determined. To address these two points, a multicenter single-arm Phase II clinical trial is being conducted with evaluation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Methods: The major inclusion criterion is that the patient has refractory measurable tumor that has progressed after the first-line therapy with FOLFOX plus panitumumab. After registration, treatment with the FOLFIRI and panitumumab will be continued in 2-week cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity and/or patients’ refusal. The primary endpoint for this study is six-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate, a simple surrogate endpoint of PFS. According to a clinical trial revealing the median PFS of 4.6 months for FOLFIRI alone and 6.4 months for panitumumab plus FOLFIRI treatment in RAS wild-type patients (Peeters et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2015; 21: 5469-79), we assume the threshold and expected 6-month PFS rate as 35% and 50%, respectively. Under the settings of one-sided alpha = 0.10 and power = 80%, the required sample size is 53 patients. The target number of cases in this study is 55 patients, considering a dropout rate of 5%. The secondary endpoint includes the tumor-related gene mutation status assessed by liquid biopsy. Primary tumor and/or metastatic site tissue samples will be collected by formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens at the time of registration. Blood samples will be collected at 3 time-points: (1) before second-line treatment, (2) at 6 ± 2 weeks after initiation of the treatment protocol, and (3) after confirmation of acquired resistance to this second-line therapy. The multiple evaluation of ctDNA will provide the meaningful information concerning relationship between the tumor resistance against treatment and alterations in gene mutation status. Clinical trial information: UMIN000026817.


2021 ◽  
pp. clincanres.0410.2021
Author(s):  
Aparna R. Parikh ◽  
Emily E. Van Seventer ◽  
Giulia Siravegna ◽  
Anna V Hartwig ◽  
Ariel Jaimovich ◽  
...  

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