Optimal Upfront Treatment in Surgically Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Candidates: A High-Volume Center Retrospective Analysis

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a devastating disease with only 15–20% of patients resectable at diagnosis. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for this cohort is becoming increasingly popular; however, there are no published randomized trials that support the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy over upfront surgery in resectable disease. This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to compare both treatment pathways and to identify any potential prognostic markers. Medical records from one large volume pancreatic cancer center from 2013–2019 were reviewed and 126 patients with upfront resectable disease were analyzed. Due to a change in practice in our center patients treated prior to December 2016 received upfront surgery and those treated after this date received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Of these, 86 (68%) patients were treated with upfront surgery and 40 (32%) of patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Our results demonstrated that patients treated with upfront surgery with early-stage (1a) disease had a longer median OS compared to those treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (24 vs. 21 months, p = 0.028). This survival difference was not evident for all patients (regardless of stage). R0 resections were similar between groups (p = 0.605). We identified that both tumor viability (in neoadjuvant chemotherapy-treated patients) and tumor grade were useful prognostic markers. Upfront surgery for certain patients with low volume disease may be suitable despite the global trend towards neoadjuvant chemotherapy for all upfront resectable patients. A prospective clinical trial in this cohort incorporating biomarkers is needed to determine optimal therapy pathway.

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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy vs. upfront surgery for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: a single-centre cohort analysis

HPB ◽

10.1016/j.hpb.2021.06.313 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. S616

Author(s):

E. Waugh ◽

D. Breadner ◽

R. Liu ◽

E. Tang ◽

L. Allen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Single Centre ◽

Resectable Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Borderline Resectable ◽

Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

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321 Phase I clinical trial assessing the combination of systemic chemokine modulatory regimen targeting TLR3 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-sitc2020.0321 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽

pp. A347-A347

Author(s):

Shipra Gandhi ◽

Mateusz Opyrchal ◽

Cayla Ford ◽

Victoria Fitzpatrick ◽

Melissa Grimm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Phase I ◽

Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽

Triple Negative ◽

Early Stage ◽

Standard Dose ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽

Cancer Center

BackgroundNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with taxanes is the standard of care in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Intratumoral prevalence of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) is associated with an improvement in relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), while regulatory T-cells (Treg) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are associated with poor survival. Higher ratio of CTL/Treg is associated with higher probability of obtaining pathological complete response (pCR), a surrogate marker for RFS. Intratumoral production of CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 is critical for local infiltration with CTLs, while CCL22 is responsible for Treg attraction. Previous studies have shown that CXCL9 expression in the pre-treatment breast tissue is associated with a three-fold higher rate of achieving pCR. Our preclinical data show that Chemokine modulating (CKM) regimen, combining rintatolimod (TLR3 agonist), interferon (IFN)-α2b, and celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) increases CTL-attracting, and decreases MDSC-, Treg-favoring chemokines, increasing CTL/Treg ratio in tumor microenvironment, with preferential tumor tissue activation than adjacent healthy tissues. We hypothesize that the combination of CKM with paclitaxel will result in infiltration of TNBC with CTLs, and along with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC), result in higher pCR, translating into improved RFS and OS.MethodsIn this phase I study NCT04081389, eligibility includes age ≥18 years, confirmed resectable TNBC, radiographically measurable disease ≥1 cm, ECOG PS ≤ 2, adequate organ and marrow function. Patients with autoimmune disease, serious mood disorders, invasive carcinoma within 3 years, history of peptic ulcers or hypersensitivity to NSAIDs will be excluded. We plan to treat three patients with early stage TNBC with paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 IV weekly for 12 weeks, rintatolimod 200 mg IV, celecoxib 200 mg oral twice daily, and accelerated titration of IFN-α2b at doses 0, 5, or 10 million units (MU)/m2 [Dose Levels (DL) 1, 2 and 3 respectively] on days 1–3 (no intra-patient dose escalation) in weeks 1–3. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) is defined as grade 3 or higher toxicities within the first 3 weeks. Any DLT will mandate recruitment per the 3+3 model. If no DLT, three patients will be enrolled at DL 4 at 20 MU/m2 IFN- α2b. This will be followed by standard dose-dense AC, and then surgery. The primary endpoint is safety and tolerability of combination and to identify the appropriate DL of CKM and paclitaxel for extended efficacy study. The secondary endpoints include investigation of efficacy (pCR and breast MRI response), along with RFS and OS. Intratumoral biomarkers will be analyzed in an exploratory manner.ResultsN/AConclusionsN/ATrial RegistrationNCT04081389Ethics ApprovalThe study was approved by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Institution’s Ethics Board, approval number I-73718.

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