The predictive utility of patient-reported outcomes and performance status for survival in metastatic lung cancer patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Background: Atezolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy) has become a first-line treatment option for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are self-reported measures that have shown promise in their predictive value for survival. However, there have been no studies that have assessed the prognostic performance of PROs in an advanced NSCLC cohort initiating first-line atezolizumab based chemoimmunotherapy. Methods: This study used individual-participant data (IPD) from the IMpower130, IMpower131 and IMpower150 clinical trials. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to determine the association between pre-treatment PROs with overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). The prediction performance of PROs was assessed using the C-statistic. For the PRO measure identified as the most predictive of survival, an exploratory analysis comparing the predictive performance against Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) was conducted. Results: Patient-reported physical function, fatigue, appetite loss, pain, role function, global health status, social function, dyspnoea, constipation, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, emotional function, cognitive function, and financial difficulty were statistically associated with OS (P<0.05). Physical function (c=0.62), fatigue (c=0.61), and appetite loss (c=0.60) were the most predictive variables for OS. Patient-reported physical function (c=0.60) also had higher predictive performance than physician-defined ECOG-PS (c=0.57). Conclusions: In patients with advanced NSCLC who received first line atezolizumab based therapy, pre-treatment PROs were prognostic for survival outcomes. Patient-reported physical function had higher predictive performance compared to physician-defined ECOG-PS. These results suggest PROs have significant worth in clinical practice and research trials of ICIs as a stratification factors.

A clinical scoring tool validated with machine learning for predicting severe hand-foot syndrome from sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Sorafenib is an effective therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a serious adverse effect associated with sorafenib therapy. This study aimed to develop an updated clinical prediction tool that allows personalized prediction of HFS following sorafenib initiation. METHODS: Individual participant data from Phase III clinical trial NCT00699374 were used in Cox proportional hazard analysis of the association between pre-treatment clinicopathological data and grade ≥ 3 HFS occurring within the first 365 days of sorafenib treatment for advanced HCC. Multivariable prediction models were developed using stepwise forward inclusion and backward deletion and internally validated using a random forest machine learning approach. RESULTS: Of 542 patients, 116 (21%) experienced grades ≥ 3 HFS. The prediction tool was optimally defined by sex (male vs female), haemoglobin (< 130 vs ≥ 130 g/L) and bilirubin (< 10 vs 10-20 vs ≥ 20 µmol/L). The prediction tool was able to discriminate subgroups with significantly different risks of grade ≥ 3 HFS (P ≤ 0.001). The high (score = 3 +)-, intermediate (score = 2)- and low (score = 0-1)-risk subgroups had 40%, 27% and 14% probability of developing grade ≥ 3 HFS within the first 365 days of sorafenib treatment, respectively. CONCLUSION: A clinical prediction tool defined by female sex, high haemoglobin and low bilirubin had high discrimination for predicting HFS risk. The tool may enable improved evaluation of personalized risks of HFS for patients with advanced HCC initiating sorafenib.

Efficacy of Atezolizumab in Patients With Advanced NSCLC Receiving Concomitant Antibiotic or Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment: Pooled Analysis of Five Randomized Control Trials.

INTRODUCTION: Gut dysbiosis may reduce immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy. Antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used drugs causing gut dysbiosis. There is limited randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on whether antibiotics or PPIs impact ICI benefit versus comparator treatments. METHODS: This study pooled five RCTs (IMpower130, IMpower131, IMpower150, OAK, and POPLAR) evaluating atezolizumab in advanced NSCLC. Atezolizumab efficacy (hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals) was assessed for subgroups on the basis of antibiotic and PPI use at randomization. The association between antibiotic and PPI use with pretreatment peripheral blood immunophenotype was also explored. RESULTS: Of 4458 participants, 285 received an antibiotic in the 30-day pretreatment and 1225 were using a PPI at treatment initiation. Overall survival efficacy of atezolizumab was similar (p[interaction] = 0.35) for antibiotic users (hazard ratio 95% confidence interval: 0.73 [0.53-0.99]) and antibiotic nonusers (0.82 [0.74-0.91]). Nevertheless, efficacy was reduced (p[interaction] = 0.003) for PPI users (1.00 [0.85-1.17]) compared with PPI nonusers (0.76 [0.69-0.83]). Findings were consistent across RCTs and for progression-free survival. PPI use was associated with 9%, 18%, and 9% lower counts of lymphocytes, CD19+, and CD16+CD56+ immune cells, respectively (p < 0·01). CONCLUSIONS: Reassuringly, atezolizumab efficacy did not differ for antibiotic users. Opposingly, PPI use was consistently associated with decreased atezolizumab efficacy and lower pretreatment counts of lymphocytes, CD19+, and CD16+CD56+ immune cells. Given that approximately 30% of patients with cancer use PPIs, there is an urgent need for evidence on the impacts of PPIs on other ICIs and for the development of guidelines on nonessential PPI use with ICIs.

Efficacy of first-line atezolizumab combination therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving proton pump inhibitors: post hoc analysis of IMpower150.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used concomitant to cancer treatment and they induce gut microbiota changes. It is increasingly apparent that gut dysbiosis can reduce the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, little is known about PPI effects on outcomes with ICIs, particularly in combination, ICI approaches. METHODS: Post hoc, Cox proportional hazard analysis of phase III trial, IMpower150 was conducted to assess the association between PPI use and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in chemotherapy-naive, metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer participants randomised atezolizumab plus carboplatin plus paclitaxel (ACP), bevacizumab plus carboplatin plus paclitaxel (BCP), or atezolizumab plus BCP (ABCP). PPI use was defined as any PPI administration between 30 days prior and 30 days after treatment initiation. RESULTS: Of 1202 participants, 441 (37%) received a PPI. PPI use was independently associated with worse OS (n = 748; hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.53 [1.21-1.95], P < 0.001) and PFS (1.34 [1.12-1.61], P = 0.002) in the pooled atezolizumab arms (ACP plus ABCP). This association was not apparent for BCP (n = 368; OS 1.01 [0.73-1.39], P = 0.969; PFS 0.97 [0.76-1.25], P = 0.827). The observed OS treatment effect (HR 95% CI) of the atezolizumab (ACP plus ABCP) arms vs BCP was 1.03 (0.77-1.36) for PPI users compared to 0.68 (0.54-0.86) for non-users (P [interaction] = 0.028). A similar association was noted for ABCP vs BCP (PPI users 0.96 [0.68-1.35]; PPI non-users 0.66 [0.50-0.87]; P [interaction] = 0.095). CONCLUSIONS: PPI use was a negative prognostic marker in patients treated with ACP or ABCP, but not BCP. The analysis suggests that PPIs negatively influence the magnitude of ICI efficacy.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Predict Progression-Free Survival of Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer Treated with Abemaciclib.

BACKGROUND: Abemaciclib is a CDK4/6 inhibitor used to treat hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. The prognostic value of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has been minimally explored for treatment outcomes with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The performance of PROs compared with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study pooled data from single-arm trial, MONARCH 1, and randomized trials, MONARCH 2 and 3. In total, 900 patients initiated abemaciclib and 384 comparator therapy. Pretreatment PRO association with progression-free survival (PFS) was modeled using Cox proportional hazards regression. Prediction performance was assessed via the C-statistic (c). PROs were recorded via the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. RESULTS: Patient-reported physical function, pain, role function, fatigue, and appetite loss were associated with PFS on univariable and adjusted analysis (p < .05). Physical function (c = 0.55) was most predictive, superior to ECOG-PS (c = 0.54), with multivariable analysis indicating both provide independent information (p < .02). In the pooled randomized arms of MONARCH 2 and 3, the PFS treatment benefit (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) of abemaciclib (vs. comparators) was 0.75 (0.57-1.0) for low physical function, compared with 0.48 (0.40-0.59) for intermediate/high (p[interaction] = .01). CONCLUSION: PROs were identified as prognostic factors for PFS in patients initiating abemaciclib, with patient-reported physical function containing independent predictive information beyond ECOG-PS. Low physical function was associated with a decrease in the magnitude of PFS benefit from abemaciclib. PROs should be explored as prognostic, predictive, and stratification factors for clinical use and research trials of CDK4/6 inhibitors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: For the first time, pretreatment patient-reported outcomes have been shown to be independent prognostic markers for progression-free survival (PFS) in patients diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer treated with abemaciclib. Importantly, patients with low physical function had a smaller PFS benefit from abemaciclib (vs. comparator) than patients with intermediate/high physical function. The present study demonstrates patient-reported outcomes as a simple, effective, inexpensive, and independent prognostic marker for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated with abemaciclib.

Prediction of severe neutropenia and diarrhoea in breast cancer patients treated with abemaciclib.

INTRODUCTION: Neutropenia and diarrhoea are common and potentially serious adverse events associated with abemaciclib in advanced breast cancer (ABC), and the risk factors have been minimally explored. The study aimed to develop clinical prediction tools that allow personalized predictions of neutropenia and diarrhoea following abemaciclib initiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was pooled from MONARCH 1, 2 and 3 trials investigating abemaciclib. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to assess the association between pre-treatment clinicopathological data and grade ≥3 diarrhoea and neutropenia occurring within the first 365 days of abemaciclib use. RESULTS: Older age was associated with increased risk of grade ≥3 diarrhoea [HR [95%CI] for age > 70: 1.72 [1.14-2.58]; P = 0.009]. A clinical prediction tool for abemaciclib induced grade ≥3 neutropenia was optimally defined by race, ECOGPS and white blood cell count. Large discrimination between subgroups was observed; the highest risk subgroup had a 64% probability of grade ≥3 neutropenia within the first 365 days of abemaciclib (150 mg twice daily) + fulvestrant/NSAI, compared to 5% for the lowest risk subgroup. CONCLUSION: The study identified advanced age as significantly associated with an increased risk of abemaciclib induced grade ≥ 3 diarrhoea. A clinical prediction tool, defined by race, ECOGPS and pre-treatment white blood cell count, was able to discriminate subgroups with significantly different risks of grade ≥3 neutropenia following abemaciclib initiation. The tool may enable improved interpretation of personalized risks and the risk-benefit ratio of abemaciclib.

Application of Model Informed Precision Dosing to Address the Impact of Pregnancy Stage and CYP2D6 Phenotype on Foetal Morphine Exposure.

Guidance regarding the effect of codeine and its metabolites on foetal development is limited by small studies and inconsistent findings. The primary objective was to use physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling to investigate the impact of gestational stage and maternal CYP2D6 phenotype on foetal morphine exposure following codeine administration. Full body physiologically based pharmacokinetic models were developed and verified for codeine and morphine using Simcyp (version 19.1). The impact of gestational age and maternal CYP2D6 phenotype on foetal and maternal morphine and codeine exposure following oral codeine administration was modelled in a cohort of 250 pregnant females and foetuses at gestational weeks 0 (mothers only), 6, 12, 24 and 36. Consistent with the known effect on codeine metabolism, a clinically meaningful (> 1.65-fold) increase in foetal morphine AUC was observed in the CYP2D6 UM phenotype cohort compared to the CYP2D6 EM and PM phenotype cohorts. The mean (95% CI) foetal morphine AUC in the CYP2D6 UM cohort of 0.988 (0.902 to 1.073) ng/mL.h was 1.8-fold higher than the CYP2D6 EM cohort of 0.546 (0.492 to 0.600) ng/mL.h (p < 0.001). Despite a 2.8-fold increase in maternal CYP2D6 protein abundance between gestational weeks 6 and 36, the mean foetal morphine AUC in the CYP2D6 EM and UM phenotype cohorts reduced by 1.55- and 1.75-fold, respectively, over this period. Maternal CYP2D6 phenotype is a significant determinant of foetal morphine AUC. Simulations suggest that the greatest risk with respect to foetal morphine exposure is during the first trimester of pregnancy, particularly in CYP2D6 UM phenotype mothers.