OCOn Behalf Of Policlinico Umberto I Collaborators
On Behalf Of Policlinico Umberto I Collaborators
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(1) Background: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a medical condition that can affect breast cancer survivors (BCS). This is a complication that often can occur as a result of breast cancer treatment, causing symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, burning, dyspareunia, dysuria, pain, discomfort, and impairment of sexual function. BCS who experience these symptoms negatively impact multiple aspects of their quality of life to the point that some of them fail to complete adjuvant hormonal treatment; (2) Methods: In this systematic review of the literature, we have analyzed possible pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for GSM in BCS. We reviewed systemic hormone therapy, local hormone treatment with estrogens and androgens, the use of vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, ospemifene, and physical therapies such as radiofrequency, electroporation, and vaginal laser; (3) Results: The data available to date demonstrate that the aforementioned treatments are effective for the therapy of GSM and, in particular, vulvovaginal atrophy in BCS. Where possible, combination therapy often appears more useful than using a single line of treatment; (4) Conclusions: We analyzed the efficacy and safety data of each of these options for the treatment of GSM in BCS, emphasizing how often larger clinical trials with longer follow-ups are needed.
PURPOSE: The clinical and research FPG500 program (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06020625 ) is currently ongoing at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS to tailor matched targeted therapies (MTTs) according to biomarkers predictive of response identified by comprehensive genome profiling (CGP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort results from the FPG500 program are outlined. CGP was performed by TruSight Oncology 500 High Throughput (TSO500HT) assay or Oncomine Focus Assay plus Archer's FusionPlex Lung Panel according to tumor cell content and DNA/RNA quantity. Relevant issues for Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) evaluation included uncommon genomic findings, evaluation for off-label therapies, uncertain result confirmation, and variants of suspect germline origin requiring genetic counseling. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the enrolled patients were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In 2022, 283 patients with NSCLC were considered for sequencing, with 93% meeting eligibility criteria. TSO500HT sequencing was conducted in 76% of patients. Follow-up data were obtained for 187 patients, among whom 81% received treatment. Potential driver alterations were identified in 59% of patients, with 41% receiving MTT: 25% were prescribed approved MTTs, whereas 16% gained access to experimental drugs post-MTB evaluation; of note, 18% did not receive any MTT because the regimen was not yet reimbursed in our country. Median PFS and OS varied among treatment groups, with standard chemotherapy/immunotherapy at 7.7 and 10.7 months, approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors at 18.8 and 23.9 months, and MTT post-MTB discussion at 14 and 23.4 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The early data of the FPG program (NSCLC cohort) support the implementation of CGP and MTB in clinical practice to grant access to patients harboring actionable molecular alterations to the most effective and individualized available treatment options, thus improving their survival outcomes.
Participants with a low functional status are often excluded from cancer clinical trials, limiting the generalizability of their results. Here we aimed to investigate performance status (PS) eligibility requirements and enrollment characteristics in clinical trials leading to anticancer drug approvals. We conducted a cross-sectional study on pivotal clinical trials for non-hematologic solid tumors leading to drug approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration from 2009 to 2023. Participants with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS ≥ 2 were defined as having low functional status (i.e., poor PS). We identified 283 clinical trials with 158,510 total participants. Four (1.4 %) studies did not use PS as an eligibility criterion. Of the remaining 279 trials, 72 (25.8 %) allowed the enrollment of poor-PS participants, with a negative trend over the 15-year interval (p = 0.01). The proportion of studies enrolling ECOG PS ≥ 2 participants was 43.2 % from 2009-2013, 29.6 % from 2014-2018, and 17.5 % from 2019-2023 (p = 0.002). Notably, early-phase studies included poor-PS participants more frequently than phase 3 clinical trials (40.8 % vs 20.2 %; p = 0.01). Finally, over the 15-year interval, the median (interquartile range) proportions of ECOG PS 0, 1, and 2 participants were 53.7 % (38.7 %-65.7 %), 45.1 % (33.5 %-58.8 %), and 4.3 % (1.8 %-7.9 %), respectively. A limited fraction of pivotal clinical trials included participants with poor PS, with a median percentage enrollment of less than 5 %. Sponsors, institutional review boards, and investigators must collaborate to broaden PS eligibility criteria to achieve more representative trial populations.
Treatment of advanced ALK + NSCLC has improved with increasingly effective ALK tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We report real-world treatment patterns and outcomes from the Italian ATLAS registry. Clinical-pathological and treatment data were retrospectively and prospectively collected from 37 Italian centers. 463 ALK + advanced NSCLC patients treated from 2019 to 2024 were included. 431 (93 %) patients received 1st line (1L) ALK TKIs, mostly alectinib (82.5 %). 1L treatment choice, reported in 142 cases, was driven by drug access as first (31 %) or subsequent lines (40.1 %) and by safety (21.8 %). Among 382 patients receiving 1L alectinib overall survival (OS) rate was 88.7 % and 73.3 % at 24 and 60 months, respectively. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 43.1 months (95 %CI: 29.5-57.0). Brain was a new site of progression in 11 (3.6 %) patients. Intracranial PFS rate was 73.1 % and 59.1 % at 24 and 36 months with a 64.7 % intracranial response rate. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events occurred in 41 (10.7 %) patients, mainly hepatic toxicity (13, 3.4 %) and asthenia (5, 1.3 %). At progression tissue and/or liquid biopsy were performed in 28 (23.5 %) and 20 (16.8 %) cases, respectively. Out of 80 patients receiving 2nd line therapy after alectinib, 67 (83.8 %) received lorlatinib achieving mPFS 7.5 (95 % CI: 6.2-8.8) and mOS 26.4 months (95 % CI: 19.1-33.7). 17 (15.5 %) patients died without second line therapy. Real-world data confirm the effectiveness and safety of alectinib, used as preferred upfront ALK-TKI. The recent 1L lorlatinib approval might change this scenario. Tissue/liquid biopsy at disease progression are underperformed in clinical practice.
Precision oncology has transformed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment by tailoring therapies to the genomic profile of the disease, significantly improving clinical outcomes. However, acquired resistance to molecularly targeted therapies remains a major challenge. This report details a 69-year-old woman with KRAS G12C-mutant metastatic NSCLC who developed resistance to sotorasib, a KRAS G12C inhibitor. Initially responding to the standard dose of 960 mg, the patient required a dose reduction to 480 mg due to liver toxicity. After 20 months, oligoprogression occurred, managed through surgical resection. Molecular analysis of the resected tissue identified KRAS amplification as a resistance mechanism. Following disease progression, re-escalation of sotorasib to 960 mg led to renewed tumor response without additional toxicity. This case highlights dose re-escalation as a potential strategy to address resistance in selected patients and underscores the critical role of molecular profiling and personalized approaches in optimizing targeted NSCLC treatments.