Phase 2 Trial of Atezolizumab in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: SWOG S1605.

BACKGROUND: Although radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), many patients are ineligible for surgery or elect bladder preservation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a single-arm phase 2 trial in patients with BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC who were ineligible for or declined RC. INTERVENTION: Intravenous atezolizumab every 3 wk for 1 yr. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (CR) rate for patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) determined via mandatory biopsy at 6 mo. Event-free survival (EFS) at 18 mo for patients with non-CIS tumors and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were key secondary endpoints. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of 172 patients enrolled in the trial, 166 received at least one dose of atezolizumab (safety analysis) and 129 were eligible (efficacy analysis). Of the 74 patients with CIS, 20 (27%) experienced a CR at 6 mo. The median duration of response was 17 mo, and 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34-77%) of the responses were durable to at least 12 mo. The 18-mo actuarial EFS rate among 55 patients with Ta/T1 disease was 49% (90% CI 38-60%). Twelve of 129 eligible patients experienced progression to muscle-invasive or metastatic disease. Grade 3-5 TRAEs occurred in 26 patients (16%), including three treatment-related deaths. The study was limited by the small sample size and a high rate of patient ineligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of atezolizumab observed among patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is similar to results from similar trials with other agents, but did not meet the prespecified efficacy threshold. Modest efficacy needs to be balanced with a significant rate of TRAEs and the risk of disease progression when considering systemic immunotherapy in early-stage bladder cancer. PATIENT SUMMARY: We tested intravenous immunotherapy (atezolizumab) in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that recurred after BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) treatment. Although we found similar outcomes to previous trials, the benefit of this therapy is modest and needs to be carefully balanced with the significant risk of side effects. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02844816.

Updates to Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/SUO Guideline (2023).

PURPOSE: In 2022 the American Urological Association (AUA) requested an Update Literature Review (ULR) to incorporate new evidence generated since the 2020 publication of this guideline. The resulting 2023 Guideline Amendment addresses updated recommendations for patients with advanced prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ULR addressed 23 of the original 38 guideline statements and included an abstract-level review of eligible studies published since the 2020 systematic review. Sixteen studies were selected for full text review. The current summary presents the updates made to the Guideline as a result of that new literature. RESULTS: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Panel amended evidence- and consensus-based statements based on an updated review to aid clinicians in the management of patients with advanced prostate cancer. These statements are detailed herein. CONCLUSION: This Guideline Amendment provides a framework designed to improve a clinician's ability to treat patients diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer with the most current evidence-based information. Further research and publication of high-quality clinical trials will be essential to continue to improve the quality of care for these patients.

Impact of choosing wisely on imaging in men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Encouraging the appropriate use of staging imaging in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer remains a challenge. Assessing the effects of national efforts may help guide future initiatives in curtailing low-value care. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the Choosing Wisely campaign on imaging utilization among men with prostate cancer. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results - Medicare data were used to complete a longitudinal population-based study of men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2007 to 2015. An interrupted time series analysis evaluated the impact of the Choosing Wisely campaign on trends of imaging utilization. RESULTS: From 2007 to 2015 imaging utilization in low-risk patients decreased, with computed tomography (CT) usage declining from 45.0% to 34.4% (P<0.001) and nuclear medicine bone scan (NMBS) from 27.8% to 11.7% (P<0.001). Choosing Wisely likely contributed to an absolute reduction of 2.9% (P=0.03) in utilization of NMBS in the low-risk population. Imaging usage for all modalities increased in the high-risk population, but with 32.8% continuing to not receive guideline-supported imaging. CONCLUSIONS: In 2012, the Choosing Wisely campaign sought to decrease inappropriate staging imaging for men with low-risk prostate cancer and encourage stewardship of medical resources. Overall decreases in staging imaging trends suggest a move towards higher value care. However, this study found that the Choosing Wisely recommendations had a modest impact on utilization of NMBS, but not CT or PET scans. These results may help inform future efforts to promote guideline concordant imaging.

Clinical Germline Testing Results of Men With Prostate Cancer: Patient-Level Factors and Implications of NCCN Guideline Expansion.

Germline likely pathogenic or pathogenic variants (PVs) have been identified in up to 17% of men with prostate cancer (PC) and may drive disease severity or be targetable by novel therapies. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines encouraging germline testing in metastatic PC were recently expanded to include all men with high-risk, very high-risk, or regional PC. Our aim was to assess the impact of expanded NCCN guidelines on the detection rate of germline PVs and to determine patient-level factors associated with a PV germline testing result. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Men with PC underwent multigene germline genetic testing for PVs from June 2016 to December 2018, and trends were compared. The association of patient-level factors with a PV germline testing result, where ≥ 1 PV was identified, was assessed using analysis of variance and univariate logistic regression. Sensitivity analyses were limited to clinically actionable variants and those associated with disease severity or progression (BRCA1/2 and ATM). RESULTS: Of 408 men undergoing germline testing, 42 (10.3%) men had PVs and 366 (89.7%) men did not have PVs identified. The proportion of men identified with a germline PV remained stable following testing criteria expansion (9.4% v 10.6%, P = .73). No patient-level factors were significantly associated with increased odds of a PV germline testing result, including age at diagnosis, race, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen, Gleason grade group, NCCN risk group, and family history of cancer (breast and/or ovarian, prostate, or any cancer). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a stable PV detection rate in men with PC using expanded criteria aligned to the updated NCCN testing guidelines. However, we did not find strong evidence to suggest that patient-level factors are associated with PV germline testing results. These findings support the recent expansion of NCCN germline testing guidelines in PC.

Decision fatigue in low-value prostate cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Low-value prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is common yet contributes substantial waste and downstream patient harm. Decision fatigue may represent an actionable target to reduce low-value urologic care. The objective of this study was to determine whether low-value PSA testing patterns by outpatient clinicians are consistent with decision fatigue. METHODS: Outpatient appointments for adult men without prostate cancer were identified at a large academic health system from 2011 through 2018. The authors assessed the association of appointment time with the likelihood of PSA testing, stratified by patient age and appropriateness of testing based on clinical guidelines. Appointments included those scheduled between 8:00 am and 4:59 pm, with noon omitted. Urologists were examined separately from other clinicians. RESULTS: In 1,581,826 outpatient appointments identified, the median patient age was 54 years (interquartile range, 37-66 years), 1,256,152 participants (79.4%) were White, and 133,693 (8.5%) had family history of prostate cancer. PSA testing would have been appropriate in 36.8% of appointments. Clinicians ordered testing in 3.6% of appropriate appointments and in 1.8% of low-value appointments. Appropriate testing was most likely at 8:00 am (reference group). PSA testing declined through 11:00 am (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50-0.64) and remained depressed through 4:00 pm (P < .001). Low-value testing was overall less likely (P < .001) and followed a similar trend, declining steadily from 8:00 am (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.42-0.56) through 4:00 pm (P < .001; OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.18-0.30). Testing patterns in urologists were noticeably different. CONCLUSIONS: Among most clinicians, outpatient PSA testing behaviors appear to be consistent with decision fatigue. These findings establish decision fatigue as a promising, actionable target for reducing wasteful and low-value practices in routine urologic care. LAY SUMMARY: Decision fatigue causes poorer choices to be made with repetitive decision making. This study used medical records to investigate whether decision fatigue influenced clinicians' likelihood of ordering a low-value screening test (prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) for prostate cancer. In more than 1.5 million outpatient appointments by adult men without prostate cancer, the chances of both appropriate and low-value PSA testing declined as the clinic day progressed, with a larger decline for appropriate testing. Testing patterns in urologists were different from those reported by other clinicians. The authors conclude that outpatient PSA testing behaviors appear to be consistent with decision fatigue among most clinicians, and interventions may reduce wasteful testing and downstream patient harms.

Prostate-specific antigen testing among young men: an opportunity to improve value.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer screening using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing remains widespread. The prevalence of PSA testing in young men is unknown and may be an appropriate target for improving health care by decreasing low-value testing in this age group. The purpose of this study was to determine PSA testing rates in men younger than current guidelines support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Health Informational National Trends Surveys (HINTS) from 2011 to 2014 and 2017 were analyzed to establish the prevalence of PSA testing in young men and to evaluate the differences in testing rates based on race. RESULTS: The combined survey data included 5178 men, with 2393 reporting previous PSA screening. Of men ages 18-39, 7% recalled receipt of PSA testing. Twenty-two percent of men between the ages of 40 and 44 had been tested. Among men under age 40, PSA testing was more common among black men (14%) compared to white men (7%), Hispanics (6%), and men of Asian descent (8%). Logistic regression modeling demonstrates that black men under the age of 40 were more likely to undergo PSA testing than other racial or ethnic groups (odds ratio 2.14; 95% CI 1.17, 3.93). CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines do not recommend routine PSA testing in average-risk men under the age of 40. This study found that a significant number of young men are exposed to testing, with the greatest risk among black men. This suggests that there is an opportunity to improve the value of PSA testing by decreasing testing in young men.

Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline PART II.

PURPOSE: The summary presented herein represents Part II of the two-part series dedicated to Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline discussing prognostic and treatment recommendations for patients with castration-resistant disease. Please refer to Part I for discussion of the management of patients with biochemical recurrence without metastatic disease after exhaustion of local treatment options as well as those with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. RESULTS: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Panel created evidence- and consensus-based guideline statements to aid clinicians in the management of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Such statements are summarized in figure 1[Figure: see text] and detailed herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The systematic review utilized to inform this guideline was conducted by an independent methodological consultant. A research librarian conducted searches in Ovid MEDLINE (1998 to January Week 5 2019), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (through December 2018), and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2005 through February 6, 2019). An updated search was conducted prior to publication through January 20, 2020. The methodology team supplemented searches of electronic databases with the studies included in the prior AUA review and by reviewing reference lists of relevant articles. CONCLUSIONS: This guideline attempts to improve a clinician's ability to treat patients diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Continued research and publication of high-quality evidence from future trials will be essential to improve the level of care for these patients.

Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline PART I.

PURPOSE: The summary presented herein represents Part I of the two-part series dedicated to Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline discussing prognostic and treatment recommendations for patients with biochemical recurrence without metastatic disease after exhaustion of local treatment options as well as those with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Please refer to Part II for discussion of the management of castration-resistant disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The systematic review utilized to inform this guideline was conducted by an independent methodological consultant. A research librarian conducted searches in Ovid MEDLINE (1998 to January Week 5 2019), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (through December 2018), and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2005 through February 6, 2019). An updated search was conducted prior to publication through January 20, 2020. The methodology team supplemented searches of electronic databases with the studies included in the prior AUA review and by reviewing reference lists of relevant articles. RESULTS: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Panel created evidence- and consensus-based guideline statements to aid clinicians in the management of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Such statements are summarized in figure 1[Figure: see text] and detailed herein. CONCLUSIONS: This guideline attempts to improve a clinician's ability to treat patients diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Continued research and publication of high-quality evidence from future trials will be essential to improve the level of care for these patients.

Feasibility of wearable activity trackers in cystectomy patients to monitor for postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND: To determine the feasibility of using wearables in patients undergoing radical cystectomy to monitor postoperative heart rate and activity and attempt to correlate these factors to complications and readmissions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 20 patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between June 2017 and March 2018. Each patient was provided with a Garmin Vívofit heart rate (HR) activity tracker and instructed to wear it on their wrist for 30 days postoperatively. Heart rate, steps, and sleep data were collected during this time. Patients were called at 10-day intervals and surveyed for complications and device compliance. Univariable mixed effects logistic regression models were used to compare daily activity tracker measures with occurrence of an adverse event. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values were reported. RESULTS: Median age was 65 (interquartile range 61-74) years. Patients had usable data for a median of 59.3% (interquartile range 25-71.7%) of the time. Five patients experienced a postoperative event (1 readmission for sepsis from urinary tract source, 1 inpatient rapid response called for tachycardic event, 3 unscheduled visits related to dehydration), where event data was recorded over a total of 17 days. Higher step count was associated with reduced odds of an adverse event (odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.98 per 1000 steps, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative activity and heart rate monitoring in cystectomy patients is feasible though current wearables are not well suited for this task.

Factors associated with appropriate and low-value PSA testing.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for early detection of prostate cancer is low-value when it is not indicated by guidelines and the harms outweigh the benefits. In this retrospective cohort study, we identify provider and patient factors associated with PSA testing, particularly in situations where testing would be low-value. METHODS: We used electronic health record data from 2011 to 2018 representing 1,738,021 health system encounters in the United States. Using logistic generalized estimating equation models, we examined patient factors (age, comorbid illness, family history, race and prior PSA results), provider factors (gender, specialty, graduation year and medical school rank), and overall time trends associated with PSA testing in low-value and appropriate settings. RESULTS: Comorbid illness (odds ratio (OR) 0.0 for 3+ conditions vs none) and no prior PSA testing (OR 0.2) were associated with a lower likelihood of PSA testing in low-value situations, while family history of prostate cancer (OR 1.6) and high prior PSA test results (OR 2.2 for PSA > 6 vs 0-1) were associated with a greater likelihood. Men aged 55-65 years were at greatest risk for PSA testing in low-value situations. The provider factor associated with PSA testing in low-value situations was specialty, with urologists being most likely (OR 2.3 versus advanced practice providers). Internal medicine physicians were more likely to perform PSA testing during low-value situations (OR 1.3 versus advanced practice providers) but much more likely to order a PSA test where appropriate (OR 2.2). All PSA testing decreased since 2011. CONCLUSION: We identified several patient and provider factors associated with PSA testing in low-value settings. Some aspects suggest attention to relevant factors for PSA testing in low-value settings (e.g. comorbid illness), while others may encourage PSA testing in low-value settings (e.g. family history). The greatest likelihood of PSA testing in low-value settings is among men within the age range most commonly recommended by guidelines.

18F-fluciclovine PET CT detection of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer at specific PSA thresholds after definitive treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate various Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) thresholds at which a 18F-fluciclovine PET scan could be considered in the setting of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer after definitive treatment. METHODS: We analyzed available records of men who underwent a 18F-fluciclovine PET scan after definitive therapy at a single academic institution between November 2016 to May 2018. The primary outcome was the rate of positive imaging findings at specific PSA thresholds. We then employed empiric strategies including a ROC curve and decision curve analysis to identify a specific threshold for which obtaining a positive result would be optimized. RESULTS: A total of 115 men underwent imaging with 18F-fluciclovine PET. No concerning lesions were identified in 25 (21.7%) patients, 32 (27.8%) had a solitary lesion identified, 45 (39.1%) had 2 to 5 lesions, and 13 (11.3%) had greater than 5 suspicious lesions identified. At PSA thresholds of less than 0.5, 0.5 to 2.0, and greater than 2, lesions were detected in 55.5% (12/22), 70.6% (24/34), and 91.5% (54/59) of patients respectively [P < 0.001]. Our ROC analysis yielded a PSA threshold of 2.10 while our decision curve analysis provided a PSA cutoff of 1.38. CONCLUSION: This study constitutes an early single institution series evaluating the use of 18F-fluciclovine PET scans in the assessment of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer after definitive treatment. The probability of having positive imaging findings and increasing numbers of suspicious lesions rises with increasing PSA. Utilization of a lower PSA threshold of 0.5 may allow earlier intervention with salvage therapies in biochemical recurrence. However, using a threshold below 1 carries a higher risk of negative scans. Employing a higher PSA threshold of 1 to 2 carries greater sensitivity and specificity and may maximize identifying individuals with early BCR who may benefit from early intervention, while minimizing negative scans.

Metastasis, Mortality, and Quality of Life for Men With NCCN High and Very High Risk Localized Prostate Cancer After Surgical and/or Combined Modality Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To compare metastasis-free survival, overall survival, and patient-reported quality of life (QOL) of men with National Comprehensive Cancer Network high or very high risk prostate cancer after definitive surgery and/or multimodal radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a retrospective cohort study of 586 patients treated between the years 2000 and 2017 receiving radical prostatectomy with or without postoperative RT, external-beam RT (EBRT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), or EBRT plus brachytherapy (Brachy) boost + ADT. Patient-reported QOL for urinary, bowel, sexual, and overall physical and mental functioning was assessed using the American Urological Association symptom scale, the Sexual Health Inventory in Men, the Rectal-Function Assessment Scale, the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite, and the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey. RESULTS: Median follow-up for survival was 5 years. No significant differences between the treatments were observed for overall survival or metastasis-free survival at the P < .05 threshold. The propensity-adjusted 5-year metastasis-free survival estimates for EBRT + ADT, EBRT + Brachy + ADT, and surgery were 74.6%, 94.8%, and 83.1%, respectively. The EBRT + Brachy + ADT and surgery cohorts had significantly worse mean American Urological Association symptom scores at 6 months than the EBRT + ADT cohort, which resolved by 1 year. Surgical patients had better rectal function scores than EBRT + ADT patients at years 1 to 3, but similar function thereafter. Adjuvant or salvage RT resulted in significant declines in various Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite urinary, sexual, and bowel domains, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey physical but not mental domains. CONCLUSION: Men with very and/or high-risk localized prostate cancer are likely to require multimodal therapy. The overall differences in survival and long-term QOL are similar for men choosing surgical versus RT pathways.

Patient Perspectives on the Implementation of Risk-Aligned Bladder Cancer Surveillance: Systematic Evaluation Using the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases Framework.

PURPOSE: Many patients living with bladder cancer do not undergo surveillance that is aligned with their risk for recurrence or progression, which exposes them to unnecessary risk and burden of procedures. To implement risk-aligned surveillance as recommended by multiple guidelines, we need to understand patient-, provider-, and system-level factors contributing to the delivery of risk-aligned surveillance. In this study, we sought to systematically assess patient-level factors. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Guided by the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases framework, we conducted semistructured interviews with 22 patients with bladder cancer undergoing surveillance cystoscopy procedures at three facilities within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Patients were sampled using quantitative data on bladder cancer risk category (low v high) and on surveillance category (aligned v not aligned with cancer risk). Interview transcripts were analyzed using a priori codes from the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases framework. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated by cross-tabulating determinants across risk and surveillance categories. RESULTS: Participants included seven low-risk and 15 high-risk patients; 10 underwent risk-aligned surveillance and 12 did not. In mixed-methods analyses, perception of risk appropriately differed by risk but not by surveillance category. Participants understood the recommended surveillance schedule according to their risk category. Participants emphatically expressed that adhering to providers' recommendations is prudent; intentions to adhere did not vary across risk and surveillance categories. CONCLUSION: Participants intended to adhere to providers' recommendations and strongly endorsed the importance of adherence. These findings suggest implementation strategies to improve risk-aligned surveillance may be most effective when targeting provider- and system-level factors rather than patient-level factors.

Harnessing Population Pedigree Data and Machine Learning Methods to Identify Patterns of Familial Bladder Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND: Relatives of patients with bladder cancer have been shown to be at increased risk for kidney, lung, thyroid, and cervical cancer after correcting for smoking-related behaviors that may concentrate in some families. We demonstrate a novel approach to simultaneously assess risks for multiple cancers to identify distinct multicancer configurations (multiple different cancer types that cluster in relatives) surrounding patients with familial bladder cancer. METHODS: This study takes advantage of a unique population-level data resource, the Utah Population Database (UPDB), containing vast genealogy and statewide cancer data. Familial risk is measured using standardized incidence risk (SIR) ratios that account for sex, age, birth cohort, and person-years of the pedigree members. RESULTS: We identify 1,023 families with a significantly higher bladder cancer rate than population controls (familial bladder cancer). Familial SIRs are then calculated across 25 cancer types, and a weighted Gower distance with K-medoids clustering is used to identify familial multicancer configurations (FMC). We found five FMCs, each exhibiting a different pattern of cancer aggregation. Of the 25 cancer types studied, kidney and prostate cancers were most commonly enriched in the familial bladder cancer clusters. Laryngeal, lung, stomach, acute lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin disease, soft-tissue carcinoma, esophageal, breast, lung, uterine, thyroid, and melanoma cancers were the other cancer types with increased incidence in familial bladder cancer families. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified five familial bladder cancer FMCs showing unique risk patterns for cancers of other organs, suggesting phenotypic heterogeneity familial bladder cancer. IMPACT: FMC configurations could permit better definitions of cancer phenotypes (subtypes or multicancer) for gene discovery and environmental risk factor studies.

Results of the ADAPT Phase 3 Study of Rocapuldencel-T in Combination with Sunitinib as First-Line Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Rocapuldencel-T is an autologous immunotherapy prepared from mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC), coelectroporated with amplified tumor RNA plus CD40L RNA. This pivotal phase III trial was initiated to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy dosing regimen of Rocapuldencel-T plus sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received either Rocapuldencel-T plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC treatment alone. The primary objective compared overall survival (OS) between groups. Secondary objectives included safety assessments, progression-free survival (PFS), and tumor responses based on RECIST 1.1 criteria. Exploratory analyses included immunologic assessments and correlates with OS. RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2016, 462 patients were randomized 2:1, 307 to the combination group and 155 to the SOC group. Median OS in the combination group was 27.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 23.0-35.9] and 32.4 months (95% CI, 22.5-) in the SOC group HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.83-1.40). PFS was 6.0 months and 7.83 months for the combination and SOC groups, respectively [HR = 1.15 (95% CI, 0.92-1.44)]. The ORR was 42.7% (95% CI, 37.1-48.4) for the combination group and 39.4% (95% CI, 31.6-47.5) for the SOC group. Median follow up was 29 months (0.4-47.7 months). On the basis of the lack of clinical efficacy, the ADAPT trial was terminated on February 17, 2017. Immune responses were detected in 70% of patients treated with Rocapuldencel-T, and the magnitude of the immune response positively correlated with OS. In addition, we report the survival-predictive value of measuring IL-12 produced by the DC vaccine and the observation that high baseline numbers of T regulatory cells are associated with improved outcomes in DC-treated patients, but are associated with poor outcomes in patients receiving SOC treatment. No serious adverse events attributed to the study medication have been reported to date. CONCLUSIONS: Rocapuldencel-T did not improve OS in patients treated with combination therapy, although the induced immune response correlated with OS. Moreover, we identified two potential survival-predictive biomarkers for patients receiving DC based immunotherapy, IL-12 produced by the DC vaccine and higher numbers of T regulatory cells present in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced RCC.

Clinical Utility of a Genomic Classifier in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy: The PRO-IMPACT Trial.

PURPOSE: The optimal management of men with prostate cancer at high risk of recurrence postradical prostatectomy is controversial. The clinical utility of the Decipher test was evaluated prospectively on postoperative treatment decisions and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In the study, 246 eligible men across 19 centers were enrolled. Patients were dichotomized into those considering adjuvant or salvage radiation therapy (ART or SRT). Participating providers submitted a management recommendation before and after receiving the Decipher test results. Treatment received within 12 months and a validated survey on prostate cancer-related anxiety were collected longitudinally. RESULTS: Pre-Decipher, treatment was recommended for 12% and 40% for the ART and SRT arms, respectively. Post-Decipher, 17% and 30% of treatment recommendations changed in the ART and SRT arms, respectively. Post-Decipher treatment recommendation was administered 78% and 76% of the time in the ART and SRT arms, respectively. Multivariable analysis confirmed that the Decipher score was an independent predictor for change in management for both adjuvant and salvage patients. The number needed to test to change management for one patient was 4. Cancer-specific anxiety decreased among Decipher risk categories in both arms. CONCLUSIONS: Use of Decipher postradical prostatectomy test was associated with postoperative treatment decisions. Overall, high Decipher risk was associated with an increase in treatment intensity whereas low risk scores were associated with a decrease in therapy administered independent of clinical and pathologic risk factors.

The Relative Importance of Race Compared to Health Care and Social Factors in Predicting Prostate Cancer Mortality: A Random Forest Approach.

PURPOSE: There is a differential in prostate cancer mortality between black and white men. Advances in precision medicine have shifted the research focus toward underlying genetic differences. However, nonbiological factors may have a large role in these observed disparities. Therefore, we sought to measure the relative importance of race compared to health care and social factors on prostate cancer specific mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database we identified 514,878 men diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 40 years or greater between 2004 and 2012. We also selected a subset of black and white men matched by age, stage and birth year. We stratified patients by age 40 to 54, 55 to 69 and 70 years or older and disease stage, resulting in 18 groups. By applying random forest methods with variable importance measures we analyzed 15 variables and interactions across 4 categories of factors (tumor characteristics, race, and health care and social factors) and the relative importance for prostate cancer specific mortality. RESULTS: Tumor characteristics at diagnosis were the most important factors for prostate cancer mortality. Across all groups race was less than 5% as important as tumor characteristics and only more important than health care and social factors in 2 of the 18 groups. Although race had a significant impact, health care and social factors known to be associated with racial disparities had greater or similarly important effects across all ages and stages. CONCLUSIONS: Eradicating disparities in prostate cancer survival will require a multipronged approach, including advances in precision medicine. Disparities will persist unless health care access and social equality are achieved among all populations.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Has Targeted Clinical Benefit in ARID1A-Mutated Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has sporadic clinical efficacy in urothelial carcinoma; the genomic basis for clinical response is not known. In two separate phase I clinical trials testing pharmacokinetic aspects of HDAC inhibitors in advanced solid tumors, we identified one patient with advanced urothelial carcinoma who had a complete response to belinostat, and one patient with advanced urothelial carcinoma who had a partial response to panobinostat. The archived tumors of the responders were genomically characterized in comparison to others with urothelial carcinoma on the trials. Urothelial carcinoma cell lines treated with panobinostat and belinostat were studied to elucidate the mechanisms of benefit. Notably, the urothelial carcinoma tumors that responded to HDAC inhibition had ARID1A mutations. ARID1A mutations were also noted in the tumors of three patients who had stable disease as their best response to HDAC inhibition. Corroborating the basis of sensitivity, transcriptional profiling of platinum-resistant ARID1A-mutated HT1197 cells treated with panobinostat reveals negative enrichment for both cyto-proliferative (MYC and E2F targets) and DNA repair gene sets, and positive enrichment for TP53 and inflammatory gene sets. Our study identifies ARID1A loss as a basis for clinical response to pan HDAC inhibition and offers avenues for potential rational therapeutic combinations with HDAC inhibitors in advanced urothelial carcinoma.

Modulation of Premetastatic Niche by the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Pazopanib in Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer Followed by Radical Prostatectomy: A Phase II Randomized Trial.

LESSONS LEARNED: Pazopanib was not effective in altering the premetastatic niche in the neoadjuvant setting.Pazopanib was safe and well tolerated without any new safety signals. BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) expressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (VEGFR1+ MDSCs) potentially foster metastases by establishing a premetastatic niche. In a preclinical study, VEGFR1+ clustering in lymph nodes (LNs) independently predicted time to biochemical recurrence (TTBR) in localized prostate cancer [1]. The hypothesis was that neoadjuvant pazopanib therapy will decrease VEGFR1+ clusters in pelvic lymph nodes and improve outcomes. METHODS: This is a phase II trial (NCT01832259) of neoadjuvant pazopanib 800 mg versus placebo daily for 4 weeks in high-risk localized prostate cancer. The primary endpoint was a decrease in VEGFR1+ MDSC clustering assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Secondary endpoints were safety, feasibility, and TTBR. RESULTS: Thirty patients were randomized to pazopanib versus placebo, with 15 patients randomized to each arm. Demographic and disease characteristics were similar in both arms. There was no difference in the VEGFR1+ clustering between the treatment arms (p = .345). Neoadjuvant therapy with pazopanib was well tolerated, and surgical complications were similar in both arms. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant pazopanib therapy did not alter the premetastatic niche; however, treatment targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the preoperative period was safe and feasible, which may open up the avenue to investigate novel combinatorial regimens, including a VEGF inhibitor in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor in this setting.

Background and Update for S1602 "A Phase III Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Influence of BCG Strain Differences and T Cell Priming with Intradermal BCG Before Intravesical Therapy for BCG-naïve High-grade Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

The S1602 Intergroup trial is a randomized phase III clinical trial that aims to test two important hypotheses: (1) priming with intradermal bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine prior to standard intravesical BCG improves response to BCG in terms of recurrence-free survival and (2) Tokyo-172 BCG strain is non-inferior to TICE BCG in terms of time to high-grade recurrence. The study was approved by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program of the National Cancer Institute and activated in spring 2017. Here, we provide a synopsis of the study background, design, and update of the clinical trial.