Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most frequent forms of cancer in the world in terms of incidence. Around 40% of CRC patients carry a mutation of the Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) gene, while 10% have a mutation in the B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) gene. These mutations are responsible for dysregulation of the mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, leading to the proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis of cells. Activation of the MAPK pathway results in adaptive therapeutic resistance, rendering EGFR inhibitors ineffective. This review aims to highlight the recent findings that have improved our understanding of KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer and to describe new targeted therapies, used alone or in combination.

Background: Immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is a standard of care in a number of metastatic malignancies, but less than a fifth of patients are expected to respond to ICIs (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors). In a clinical trial, combining the anti-TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) Mab (monoclonal antibody) tiragolumab with atezolizumab improved outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer. In preclinical models, SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) could increase expression levels of the inhibitory co-receptors TIGIT and PD-L1. We aim to assess the combination of tiragolumab with atezolizumab and SBRT in metastatic, previously treated by ICIs, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cell cancer. Methods: This phase I study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05259319) will assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of atezolizumab with tiragolumab and stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with histologically proven metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell cancer, bladder cancer, and head and neck cancer previously treated. First part: 2 different schedules of SBRT in association with a fixed dose of atezolizumab and tiragolumab will be investigated only with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients (cohort 1). The expansion cohorts phase will be a multicentric, open-label study at the recommended scheme of administration and enroll additional patients with metastatic bladder cancer, renal cell cancer, and head and neck cancer (cohort 2, 3 and 4). Patients will be treated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, intercurrent conditions that preclude continuation of treatment, or patient refusal in the absence of progression or intolerance. The primary endpoint of the first phase is the safety of the combination in a sequential or concomitant scheme and to determine the expansion cohorts phase recommended scheme of administration. The primary endpoint of phase II is to evaluate the efficacy of tiragolumab + atezolizumab + SBRT in terms of 6-month PFS (Progression-Free Survival). Ancillary analyses will be performed with peripheral and intratumoral immune biomarker assessments. Trial registration: This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05259319, since February 28th, 2022.

Palbociclib is an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor indicated in HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with hormonotherapy. Its main toxicity is neutropenia. The aim of our study was to describe the kinetics of circulating neutrophils from real-life palbociclib-treated patients. A population pharmacokinetic (popPK) model was first constructed to describe palbociclib pharmacokinetic (PK). Individual PK parameters obtained were then used in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model to depict the relation between palbociclib concentrations and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC). The models were built with a population of 143 patients. Palbociclib samples were routinely collected during therapeutic drug monitoring, whereas ANC were retrospectively retrieved from the patient files. The optimal popPK model was a mono-compartmental model with a first-order absorption constant of 0.187 h⁻¹ and an apparent clearance Cl/F of 57.09 L (32.8% of inter individuality variability (IIV)). The apparent volume of distribution (1580 L) and the lag-time (T_lag: 0.658 h) were fixed to values from the literature. An increase in creatinine clearance and a decrease in alkaline phosphatase led to an increase in palbociclib Cl/F. To describe ANC kinetics during treatment, Friberg’s PK/PD model, with linear drug effect, was used. Parameters estimated were Base (2.92 G/L; 29.6% IIV), Slope (0.0011 L/µg; 28.8% IIV), Mean Transit Time (MTT; 5.29 days; 17.9% IIV) and γ (0.102). The only significant covariate was age on the initial ANC (Base), with lower ANC in younger patients. PK/PD model-based simulations show that the higher the estimated C_ressSS (trough concentration at steady state), the higher the risk of developing neutropenia. In order to present a risk lower than 20% to developing a grade 4 neutropenia, the patient should show an estimated C_ressSS lower than 100 µg/L.

Purpose: Immune infiltration is a prognostic factor in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) but immunotherapy efficacy is disappointing. Genomic instability is now used to guide the therapeutic value of PARP inhibitors. We aimed to investigate exome-derived parameters to assess the tumor microenvironment according to genomic instability profile. Methods: We used the HGSC TCGA (the cancer genome atlas) dataset with genomic characteristics, including homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), copy number variant (CNV) signatures, TCR (T cell receptor) clonality and abundance of tissue-infiltrating immune and stromal cell populations. We then investigated the relationship with survival data. Results: In 578 HGSC patients, HRD status, CNV signature 7 and TCR clonality were associated with longer survival. The combination of high CNV signature 7 expression and HRD status or high CNV signature 3 expression and high TCR clonality was associated with a trend towards longer survival compared to each variable alone. Combining T cell infiltrate and TCR clonality improved the prognostic value compared to T cells infiltration alone. Prognostic value of TCR clonality was confirmed in an independent cohort. Conclusions: TCR clonality is an emerging prognostic biomarker that improves T cell infiltrate information. Analysis of TCR clonality combined with genomic instability could be an interesting prognostic biomarker.

Background: Gynecological carcinosarcomas are rare and aggressive diseases, with a poor prognosis. The rarity of these tumors explains the lack of robust and specific data available in the literature. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of initial adjuvant treatment and recurrent therapeutic strategies. Patients and methods: A multicentric cohort study within the French national prospective Rare Malignant Gynecological Tumors (TMRG) network was conducted. Data from all included carcinosarcomas diagnosed between 2011 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. Results: 425 cases of uterine and ovarian carcinosarcomas (n = 313 and n = 112, respectively) were collected and analyzed from 12 participating centers. At diagnosis, 140 patients (48%) had a FIGO stage III–IV uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) and 88 patients (83%) had an advanced ovarian carcinosarcoma (OCS) (FIGO stage ≥ III). Two hundred sixty-seven patients (63%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, most preferably carboplatin-paclitaxel regimen (n = 227, 86%). After a median follow-up of 47.4 months, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 15.1 months (95% CI 12.3–20.6) and 14.8 months (95% CI 13.1–17.1) for OCS and UCS, respectively. The median overall survival for OCS and UCS was 37.1 months (95% CI 22.2–49.2) and 30.6 months (95% CI 24.1–40.9), respectively. With adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, mPFS was 41.0 months (95% CI 17.0–NR) and 18.9 months (95% CI 14.0–45.6) for UCS stages I–II and stages III–IV, respectively. In the early stage UCS subgroup (i.e., stage IA, n = 86, 30%), mPFS for patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 24) was not reached (95% CI 22.2–NR), while mPFS for untreated patients (n = 62) was 19.9 months (95% IC 13.9–72.9) (HR 0.44 (0.20–0.95) p = 0.03). At the first relapse, median PFS for all patients was 4.2 months (95% CI 3.5–5.3). In the first relapse, mPFS was 6.7 months (95% CI 5.1–8.5) and 2.2 months (95% CI 1.9–2.9) with a combination of chemotherapy or monotherapy, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Interestingly, this vast prospective cohort of gynecological carcinosarcoma patients from the French national Rare Malignant Gynecological Tumors network (i) highlights the positive impact of adjuvant CT on survival in all localized stages (including FIGO IA uterine carcinosarcomas), (ii) confirms the importance of platinum-based combination as an option for relapse setting, and (iii) reports median PFS for various therapeutic strategies in the relapse setting.

Palbociclib is an oral cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that is used in combination with aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. Its metabolism profile is associated with an important interpatient variability. We performed a population pharmacokinetics study of palbociclib in women routinely followed in a cancer center. One hundred and fifty-one samples were analyzed. The sampling times after administration ranged from 0.9 to 75 h and the samples were taken between 1 and 21 days after the beginning of the palbociclib cycle. Palbociclib was determined using a validated mass spectrometry method. The best model that described the concentrations was a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and an absorption lag time. Interindividual variability could only be estimated on the clearance and the first-order absorption. Creatinine clearance was found to be a significant covariate for the apparent clearance. No significant covariates could be observed with the first-order absorption. First-order absorption and absorption lag times were difficult to assess because of the constraints linked to the real-world setting due to the small number of samples used during the absorption process. However, palbociclib apparent clearance was satisfactorily estimated. Population pharmacokinetics (POP PK) with palbociclib could help to optimize dosing.