Intensity-modulated radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Toxicity assessment

Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy attempt to maintain efficiency while limiting toxicity in the treatment of neck squamous cell carcinomas. Side effects of the therapy are both challenge during treatment such as treatment delay, increasing financial and hospitalization rate and also cause early and late toxicities, affects to patient performances and treatment outcomes. We aimed to assess acute and late toxicity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) managed with concurrent chemoradiation therapy using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique. Methods: A prospective descriptive study of 120 patients suffering from non-metastatic HNSCC received Intensity-modulated radiotherapy concurrently with four to six cycles of cisplatin (30mg/m2/day/ weekly) from May 2017 to 2018 at Hue Central Hospital (Vietnam). The dose to the primary tumour and cervical lymph nodes totally taken was 70 Gy. Toxicities were gradedbased on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Results: Acute toxicities were mainly at grade 1 with oral mucositis, dermatitis and nausea/vomiting. For late toxicities, grade 3 xerostomia accountings for 5.8%. Neck fibrosis and trismus were not at grade 3 to grade 4, grade 1 mandibular bone necrosis (3.4%) was found in 3 patients. Conclusions: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy with IMRT demonstrated a well-tolerated regime with manageable toxicities.

Phase 3 study of pembrolizumab with concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by pembrolizumab with or without olaparib versus concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by durvalumab in unresectable, locally advanced, stage III non-small cell lung cancer: KEYLYNK-012.

TPS8580 Background: Pembrolizumab, an anti‒PD-1 antibody is standard of care therapy for metastatic non‒small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy. Durvalumab, an anti–PD-L1 antibody, is approved for unresectable, stage III NSCLC without disease progression following concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Early trials of pembrolizumab in combination with chemoradiotherapy, either concurrently or as consolidation, showed acceptable tolerability and promising PFS in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. Early data suggest the combination of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) plus anti–PD-(L)1 inhibition can enhance treatment effects. KEYLYNK-012 (NCT04380636) is evaluating pembrolizumab plus CCRT followed by pembrolizumab with/without the PARP inhibitor olaparib vs CCRT followed by durvalumab in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, stage III NSCLC. Methods: This global phase 3, randomized, placebo- and active-controlled, double-blind study is enrolling patients aged ≥18 y with previously untreated, pathologically confirmed, stage IIIA–C NSCLC, an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, and a tumor sample available for PD-L1 evaluation. Patients are randomized 1:1:1 to CCRT (platinum-doublet chemotherapy [cisplatin plus pemetrexed or etoposide; or carboplatin plus paclitaxel] plus radiotherapy 60 Gy over 6 wks [cycles 2–3]) with pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W (groups A and B) or CCRT alone (group C) for 3 cycles. This is followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W for 17 cycles plus placebo (group A) or olaparib 300 mg BID (group B); or durvalumab 10 mg/kg Q2W for 26 cycles (group C). Randomization is stratified by disease stage (IIIA vs IIIB/IIIC), tumor histology (squamous vs nonsquamous), PD-L1 tumor proportion score (≥50% vs < 50%) and region (East Asia vs North America/Western Europe/UK vs other). PFS (RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review [BICR]) and OS are dual primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints include ORR, duration of response, safety and tolerability, and quality-of-life outcomes. Tumor response will be evaluated per RECIST v1.1 by BICR after CCRT and at regular intervals throughout the study until disease progression, new cancer therapy, study withdrawal, or death. AEs will be graded by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) v5.0. Enrollment began July 6, 2020 and is ongoing at 204 sites in 24 countries. Clinical trial information: NCT04380636.

KEYLYNK-013: A phase 3 study of pembrolizumab in combination with concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by pembrolizumab with or without olaparib versus concurrent chemoradiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed limited-stage SCLC.

TPS8587 Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with etoposide and platinum (carboplatin/cisplatin) plus the anti‒PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab (pembro) has shown antitumor activity and acceptable safety in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, olaparib, has shown clinical activity in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in patients with SCLC. KEYLYNK-013 (NCT04624204) is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 3 trial of pembro plus concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by pembro with or without olaparib in patients with newly diagnosed LS-SCLC. Methods: Eligible patients are those aged ≥18 years with previously untreated LS-SCLC, ECOG PS 0/1, and adequate pulmonary function. Patients are randomized 1:1:1 to receive pembro 200 mg Q3W (groups A and B) or pembro placebo (saline) Q3W (group C) during the chemoradiation phase. All patients also receive 4 cycles of chemotherapy (etoposide 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3 of each cycle and investigator’s choice of carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min or cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle) with definitive thoracic radiotherapy (total dose of 45 Gy in 30 fractions twice daily over 3 weeks or 66 Gy in 33 fractions once daily over 6.5 weeks starting on day 1 of cycle 2). After chemoradiation, prophylactic cranial irradiation is strongly recommended for patients with CR/PR or at investigator’s discretion for patients with SD. Postchemoradiation patients receive pembro 400 mg Q6W plus olaparib placebo (group A), or pembro 400 mg Q6W plus olaparib 300 mg BID (group B), or pembro placebo plus olaparib placebo (group C) for 9 cycles/12 months. Randomization is stratified by ECOG PS (0 vs 1), SCLC stage (I/II vs III), radiation fractionation (twice vs once daily), and region (east Asia vs North America/western Europe/UK/Australia vs rest of world). Tumor imaging occurs at baseline, within 12 weeks of cycle 1 day 1, followed by Q9W to the end of year 2, Q12W in year 3, Q16W in year 4, every 6 months in year 5, and annually thereafter. Imaging is assessed per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review. AEs are monitored from randomization to 30 days after cessation of study treatment (90 days for serious AEs) and graded per NCI-CTCAE v5.0. Health-related quality of life is assessed using EORTC-QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13. Primary endpoints are OS and PFS per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review. OS and PFS are estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Between-group differences will be evaluated with stratified log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models with Efron’s method of tie handling. Secondary endpoints include ORR, duration of response, safety, and patient-reported outcomes. The study began enrollment in December 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT04624204.

Prognostic Factors Associated with 5-Year Overall Survival in Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Hysterectomy Followed by Adjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy at a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern Europe

Background: This retrospective observational study aims to assess the 5-year overall survival and the prognostic significance of risk factors of patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) for FIGO stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer in a tertiary care center in Eastern Europe. Methods: From January 2010 to February 2019, 222 patients with stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer were treated with radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant CCRT in our institution. The baseline information consisting of demographic and clinicopathologic data, treatment choices, recurrences, and outcome information was collected and examined. The survival rates were illustrated using Kaplan–Meier curves and prognosis analyses were accomplished using Cox multivariate analyses. Results: The 222 participants had a mean age of 51.2 years (28–76). The median follow-up time was 65.5 months (3–128). Tumor characteristics revealed FIGO stage (IB1 2.3%, IB2 35.1%, IB3 16.7%, IIA1 9%, IIA2 8.6%, IIB 28.4%) and the most encountered histologic cell type was squamous cell carcinoma (80.06%) followed by adenocarcinoma (11.3%). At the time of examination, 157 patients (70.07%) were alive, of which 135 (61%) were alive free of disease and 22 (9%) were alive with disease. The multivariate Cox regression analysis acknowledged stage IIB, parametrial involvement, and the presence of lymph node metastases as independent prognostic risk factors, significantly worsening the oncologic outcomes influencing the survival with a P-value of 0.076, 0.0001, and 0.008, respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 69.9%. Conclusions: Altogether, the study enhances the significance of prognostic risk factors on the 5-year overall survival of patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant CCRT for FIGO stages IB1-IIB cervical cancer, allowing comparisons with other regions.