MiTF/TFE Translocation Renal Cell Carcinomas: From Clinical Entities to Molecular Insights.

MiTF/TFE translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of RCC representing the most prevalent RCC in the pediatric population (up to 40%) and making up 4% of all RCCs in adults. It is characterized by translocations involving either TFE3 (TFE3-tRCC), TFEB (TFEB-tRCC) or MITF, all members of the MIT family (microphthalmia-associated transcriptional factor). TFE3-tRCC was first recognized in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of kidney cancers in 2004. In contrast to TFEB-tRCC, TFE3-tRCC is associated with many partners that can be detected by RNA or exome sequencing. Both diagnoses of TFE3 and TFEB-tRCC are performed on morphological and immunohistochemical features, but, to date, TFE break-apart fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) remains the gold standard for diagnosis. The clinical behavior of tRCC is heterogeneous and more aggressive in adults. Management of metastatic tRCC is challenging, especially in the younger population, and data are scarce. Efficacy of the standard of care-targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors remains low. Recent integrative exome and RNA sequencing analyses have provided a better understanding of the biological heterogeneity, which can contribute to a better therapeutic approach. We describe the clinico-pathological entities, the response to systemic therapy and the molecular features and techniques used to diagnose tRCC.

Future treatment options in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

The field of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has undergone major changes in the last decade, both in terms of the understanding of the mechanisms of oncogenesis and the role of the tumor microenvironment in anti-tumor immunity, as well as in therapeutic developments. After the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting VEGFR and then the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, we are now entering the era of combination therapy for first-line metastatic cancer (m-ccRCC), such as combinations including a TKI and a PD-1 inhibitor or combinations of PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockers. In this extremely dynamic environment, new molecules with various mechanisms of action will appear in the very near future: immune response modulators (other ICIs, pro-inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota modulators), new anti-angiogenic agents (new TKIs, anti-HIF-1α antibodies), agents affecting cell metabolism (glutaminase inhibitors, tryptophan regulators or adenosine A2A receptor antagonists) or epigenetic regulators (HDAC inhibitors). In parallel, new strategies are being evaluated that could rapidly change the standards of management of advanced disease, including therapeutic intensification with triple combinations or, conversely, adaptive and/or alternative de-escalation regimens (SURF trial), and biomarker-driven treatments (BIONIKK trial). The main new molecules and strategies currently being evaluated are reviewed in this article.

Enhance the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Efficacy with Radiotherapy Induced Immunogenic Cell Death: A Comprehensive Review and Latest Developments.

The immunogenic cell death (ICD) is defined as a regulated cell death able to induce an adaptive immunity. It depends on different parameters including sufficient antigenicity, adjuvanticity and favorable microenvironment conditions. Radiation therapy (RT), a pillar of modern cancer treatment, is being used in many tumor types in curative, (neo) adjuvant, as well as metastatic settings. The anti-tumor effects of RT have been traditionally attributed to the mitotic cell death resulting from the DNA damages triggered by the release of reactive oxygen species. Recent evidence suggests that RT may also exert its anti-tumor effect by recruiting tumor-specific immunity. RT is able to induce the release of tumor antigens, to act as an immune adjuvant and thus to synergize with the anti-tumor immunity. The advent of new efficient immunotherapeutic agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), in multiple tumor types sheds new light on the opportunity of combining RT and ICI. Here, we will describe the biological and radiobiological rationale of the RT-induced ICD. We will then focus on the interest to combine RT and ICI, from bench to bedside, and summarize the clinical data existing with this combination. Finally, RT technical adaptations to optimize the ICD induction will be discussed.

Cabazitaxel schedules in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a review.

Cabazitaxel (25 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) is the standard second-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer previously treated with docetaxel. It is associated with a risk of neutropenic complications, which may be a barrier to its use in daily clinical practice, particularly in frail elderly patients. Here the authors reviewed key studies conducted with cabazitaxel (TROPIC, PROSELICA, AFFINITY, CARD and the European compassionate use program) and pilot studies with adapted schedules. Based on this review, the use of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor from cycle 1 appears crucial to maximize the benefit-risk ratio of cabazitaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Preliminary data with alternative schedules look promising, especially for frail patients. Results of the ongoing Phase III CABASTY trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02961257) are awaited.

Tumor Microenvironment Features as Predictive Biomarkers of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (mccRCC).

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most frequently diagnosed malignancy with an increasing incidence in developed countries. Despite a greater understanding of the cancer biology, which has led to an increase of therapeutic options, metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) still have a poor prognosis with a median five-years survival rate lower than 10%. The standard of care for mccRCC has changed dramatically over the past decades with the emergence of new treatments: anti-VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR Inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as anti-Programmed cell-Death 1 (PD-1) and anti-anti-Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) used as monotherapy or as a combination with anti CTLA-4 or anti angiogenic therapies. In the face of these rising therapeutic options, the question of the therapeutic sequences is crucial. Predictive biomarkers are urgently required to provide a personalized treatment for each patient. Disappointingly, the usual ICI biomarkers, PD-L1 expression and Tumor Mutational Burden, approved in melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have failed to distinguish good and poor mccRCC responders to ICI. The tumor microenvironment is known to be involved in ICI response. Innovative technologies can be used to explore the immune contexture of tumors and to find predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Recent comprehensive molecular characterization of RCC has led to the development of robust genomic signatures, which could be used as predictive biomarkers. This review will provide an overview of the components of the RCC tumor microenvironment and discuss their role in disease progression and resistance to ICI. We will then highlight the current and future ICI predictive biomarkers assessed in mccRCC with a major focus on immunohistochemistry markers and genomic signatures.

Update on the most promising biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

In the last few years, the standard of care for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) has changed dramatically with the emergence of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI): anti-PD(L)-1 used as a monotherapy or as in combination either with an anti CTLA-4 or with an anti-angiogenic molecule (VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)). These combinations are now recommended in first line setting for mccRCC, according to the last European recommendations. In the face of these new therapeutic options, the question of selecting the best treatment arises as well as the optimal sequence. Predictive biomarkers are required to guide the therapeutic choice and provide a personalized treatment for each patient. This narrative review will provide an overview of the main predictive biomarkers assessed in mccRCC treatment, with a particular focus on mRNA panel signatures.

Immune-related adverse events: a retrospective look into the future of oncology in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have reshaped the standard of care in oncology. However, they have been associated with potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse events. With the growing indications of immune checkpoint inhibitors and their position as a pillar of cancer treatment, intensive care physicians will be increasingly confronted with their side effects. The outcome of patients with severe immune-related adverse events in the intensive care unit remains unknown. This retrospective multicentric study aims to describe the characteristics of patients admitted to the intensive care units of 4 academic hospitals in Paris area while receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment between January 2013 and October 2019. RESULTS: Over the study period, 112 cancer patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors were admitted to the intensive care unit within 60 days after the last dose. ICU admission was related to immune-related adverse events (n = 29, 26%), other intercurrent events (n = 39, 35%), or complications related to tumor progression (n = 44, 39%). Immune-related adverse events were pneumonitis (n = 8), colitis (n = 4), myocarditis (n = 3), metabolic disorders related to diabetes (n = 3), hypophysitis (n = 2), nephritis (n = 2), meningitis or encephalitis (n = 2), hepatitis (n = 2), anaphylaxis (n = 2) and pericarditis (n = 1). Primary tumors were mostly melanomas (n = 14, 48%), non-small-cell lung cancers (n = 7, 24%), and urothelial carcinomas (n = 5, 17%). Diagnosis of melanoma and a neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio < 10 were associated with immune-related diagnosis versus other reasons for ICU admission. During their ICU stay, immune-related adverse events patients needed vasopressors (n = 7), mechanical ventilation (n = 6), and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (n = 2). One-year survival was significantly higher for patients admitted for irAE compared to patients admitted for other reasons (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Admission to the intensive care unit related to immune-related adverse event was associated with better outcome in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our results support the admission for an intensive care unit trial for patients with suspected immune-related adverse events.

[Impact of molecular signatures on the choice of systemic treatment for metastatic kidney cancer]. / Impact des signatures moléculaires sur le choix du traitement systémique du cancer du rein métastatique.

The standard of care for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) has changed dramatically over the past decades thanks to the increasing number of treatments: anti-VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), mTOR inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI): anti PD(L)-1 used as monotherapy or in combination with anti CTLA-4 or anti angiogenic therapies. In the face of rising therapeutic options, the question of the therapeutic sequences arises: which treatment for which patient? Actually, there is a lack of predictive biomarkers. A greater understanding of the cancer biology and its interaction with the microenvironment has allowed the development of genomic signatures which could perhaps be used as predictive biomarker. This review will give an insight on some robust genomic signatures assessed in mccRCC and will have a closer look at BIONIKK phase II trial, which is the first trial to adapt treatments according to the molecular characteristics of the tumor in the context of mccRCC.

BIONIKK: A phase 2 biomarker driven trial with nivolumab and ipilimumab or VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in naïve metastatic kidney cancer.

BACKGROUND: The nivolumab-ipilimumab combination provides an overall response rate of 42% in first-line metastatic treatment of clear cell renal carcinoma (mccRCC). To date, there is no robust predictive biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). In addition, severe autoimmune disorders occur more frequently with ICI combination than with ICI alone. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ICI alone or in combination in patients according to tumor molecular characteristics. METHODS: Using a 35-gene expression mRNA signature, patients were divided into 4 molecular groups (1 to 4). Patients in groups 1 and 4 were randomized to receive nivolumab alone (arms 1A and 4A) or nivolumab plus ipilimumab for 4 injections followed by nivolumab alone (arms 1B and 4B). Patients in groups 2 and 3 were randomized to receive nivolumab plus ipilimumab followed by nivolumab alone (arms 2B and 3B) or a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (sunitinib or pazopanib at the investigator's choice (arms 2C and 3C)). The main objective is the overall response rate by treatment and molecular group. DISCUSSION: BIONIKK is the first trial in mccRCC to study the personalization of treatment with ICI or TKI according to tumor molecular characteristics in mccRCC. This trial is the most appropriate to prospectively identify biomarkers of response to nivolumab used alone or in combination or TKI monotherapy in patients with mccRCC. NCT02960906.

The 2016-2019 ImmunoTOX assessment board report of collaborative management of immune-related adverse events, an observational clinical study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the activities of an ImmunoTOX board, an academic, multidisciplinary group of oncologists and organ specialists that adopts a real-life, case-by-case approach in the management of patients with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The ImmunoTOX assessment board was set up in 2016 at Gustave Roussy in France. It meets every 2 weeks to discuss the case-by-case management of patients presenting with irAEs. Here, we describe the ImmunoTOX board's activities between 2016 and 2019. RESULTS: Over study period, 398 requests (concerning 356 patients) were submitted to the ImmunoTOX board. Most of the requests concerned the putative causal link between immunotherapy and the irAE (n = 148, 37%), followed by possible retreatment after temporary withdrawal because of an adverse event (n = 109, 27%), the clinical management of complex situations (n = 100, 25%) and the initiation of immunotherapy in patients with pre-existing comorbidities (n = 41, 10%). The ImmunoTOX board discerned 273 irAEs. The five organ systems most frequently involved by irAEs were lung (n = 58, 21%), gastrointestinal tract (n = 36, 13%), liver or biliary tract (n = 33, 12%), musculoskeletal system (n = 27, 10%), and nervous system (n = 23, 8%). The time to occurrence was shorter for severe irAEs (grade III and VI) than for mild irAEs (grades I and II), with medians of 47 and 91 days, respectively (p = 0.0216). CONCLUSION: The main medical needs in the management of irAEs involved the lung organ. Severe irAEs were expected to occur earlier than mild irAEs. This real-life study can help to better estimate medical needs and therefore help to assess the management of irAEs.

Resistance to cancer immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The prognosis of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) has changed dramatically over the years with the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) used alone, or in combination with another ICI, or with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Although major response rates have been observed with ICI, many patients do not respond, reflecting primary resistance, and durable responses remain exceptional, reflecting secondary resistance. Factors contributing to primary and acquired resistance are manifold, including patient-intrinsic factors, tumor cell-intrinsic factors and factors associated with the tumoral microenvironment (TME). While some mechanisms of resistance are common to several tumor types, others are specific to mccRCC. Predictive biomarkers and alternative strategies are needed to overcome this resistance. This review provides an overview of the major ICI resistance mechanisms, highlights the potential of the TME to induce resistance to ICI, and discusses the predictive biomarkers available to guide therapeutic choice.

Evaluation of Readministration of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors After Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients With Cancer.

IMPORTANCE: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death 1) or anti-PD-L1 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1), have proved effective in treating many cancers, patients receiving ICIs may experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Little evidence exists on the safety of resuming these treatments after an irAE. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of a rechallenge with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapies after an irAE. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study of the safety of an ICI rechallenge involved consecutive adult patients (n = 93) who were referred to the ImmunoTOX assessment board at the Gustave Roussy cancer center in Villejuif, France, between August 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from May 28 to November 25, 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Incidence of a second irAE in patients who had a readministration of an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 inhibitor after an initial grade 2 or higher irAE. Characteristics of the patients and the irAEs were reviewed, and the primary end point was the rate of occurrence of second irAEs. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients were included, among whom 48 (52%) were female, and the median (range) age was 62.5 (33-85) years. The main cancer types or tumor sites were melanoma (31 [33%]), lung (15 [16%]), colorectal (8 [9%]), and lymphoma (8 [9%]). For the initial irAE, 43 grade 2 events (46%), 36 grade 3 events (39%), and 14 grade 4 events (15%) were found, presenting primarily as hepatitis (17 [18%]), skin toxic effect (14 [15%]), pneumonitis (13 [14%]), colitis (11 [12%]), or arthralgia (7 [7.5%]). Forty patients (43%) were rechallenged with the same anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 agent. The rechallenged and non-rechallenged groups did not differ in terms of median (range) age (61 [34-84] years vs 63 [33-85] years; P = .37), time to initial irAE (5 [1-40] treatment cycles vs 3 [1-22] treatment cycles; P = .32), irAE severity (grade 2: 18 [47.5%] vs 27 [51%]; grades 3-4: 22 [52.5%] vs 26 [49%]; P = .70), or steroid use (17 [42.5%] vs 32 [60%]; P = .09). With a median follow-up period of 14 months, the same irAE or a different irAE occurred in 22 patients (55%). Shorter time to the initial irAE was linked to the occurrence of a second irAE (9 vs 15 weeks; P = .04). The second irAEs were not found to be more severe than the first. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The risk-reward ratio for an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 rechallenge appears to be acceptable, although these patients require close monitoring; further investigation into rechallenge conditions through a prospective clinical trial is needed.

Autres immunothérapies.

ALTERNATIVE IMMUNOTHERAPIES: Monoclonal antibodies targeted at immune checkpoint molecules such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 have revolutionized the field of oncology in a few years. This success is explained by the large spectrum of activity of these therapies (more than 30 different cancer types), and the durability of tumor responses which provide benefits in overall survival for patients. However, a majority of patients do not respond to these treatments and novel immune strategies are needed to overcome resistance to monotherapies. A compelling effort is ongoing with numerous novel immunotherapies being in clinical development. Beyond immunomodulatory antibodies, other immunotherapies (small inhibitory molecules, vaccines, cytokines, viruses, cells) are in clinical trials or have been already approved, not only targeting T-cells but also other immune cells, including innate immune cells. This review summarizes the recent advances obtained with these new therapies.

Immunothérapie des cancers du rein.

IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR RENAL CELL CARCINOMA: Clear cell kidney cancer is a tumour type whose development and progression is driven by the HIF/VEGF angiogenesis pathway. Anti-angiogenic (AA) agents, particularly anti-VEGFR tyrosine kinase (TKI) inhibitors, have profoundly modified the prognosis of patients in the metastatic setting (mRCC) since their registration in 2006. At the same time, mTOR inhibitors have also brought significant benefit to patients. More recently, treatments restoring adaptive anti-tumor immunity, anti-program death 1 (anti-PD-1) checkpoint inhibitors (ICP), have in turn revolutionized the management of patients with mRCC. The multi-tumor efficacy of these ICPs proves the crucial role of anti-tumor immunity in tumor development and progression in a number of tumors including clear cell kidney tumours (ccRCC). The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of ccRCC is known to be highly immunosuppressive. Thus ccRCCs are characterized by a strong infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes, frequently expressing immunological checkpoint molecules on their surface, giving them a poor prognostic feature. These characteristics partly explain the effectiveness of ICP in ccRCC and constitute a strong rationale for their further development, either at an earlier stage or in combination, particularly with AA or TKI. In this review are compiled the main clinical results of immunological checkpoint molecules alone or in combination in 1stline or after TKI failure.