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Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.) Nov 2022Survival for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) remains poor despite aggressive multimodal therapies.
BACKGROUND
Survival for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) remains poor despite aggressive multimodal therapies.
AIMS
To study the feasibility and safety of incorporating a genomic-based targeted agent to induction therapy for HRNB as well as the feasibility and safety of adding difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to anti-GD2 immunotherapy.
METHODS
Twenty newly diagnosed HRNB patients were treated on this multicenter pilot trial. Molecular tumor boards selected one of six targeted agents based on tumor-normal whole exome sequencing and tumor RNA-sequencing results. Treatment followed standard upfront HRNB chemotherapy with the addition of the selected targeted agent to cycles 3-6 of induction. Following consolidation, DFMO (750 mg/m twice daily) was added to maintenance with dinutuximab and isotretinoin, followed by continuation of DFMO alone for 2 years. DNA methylation analysis was performed retrospectively and compared to RNA expression.
RESULTS
Of the 20 subjects enrolled, 19 started targeted therapy during cycle 3 and 1 started during cycle 5. Eighty-five percent of subjects met feasibility criteria (receiving 75% of targeted agent doses). Addition of targeted agents did not result in toxicities requiring dose reduction of chemotherapy or permanent discontinuation of targeted agent. Following standard consolidation, 15 subjects continued onto immunotherapy with DFMO. This combination was well-tolerated and resulted in no unexpected adverse events related to DFMO.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of adding targeted agents to standard induction therapy and adding DFMO to immunotherapy for HRNB. This treatment regimen has been expanded to a Phase II trial to evaluate efficacy.
Topics: Humans; Eflornithine; Pilot Projects; Induction Chemotherapy; Retrospective Studies; Neuroblastoma; Immunotherapy; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunologic Factors; Genomics; RNA
PubMed: 35355452
DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1616 -
Biomolecules Feb 2022Neuroblastoma is one of the few childhood cancers that carries a tumor-specific antigen in the form of a glycolipid antigen known as GD2. It has restricted expression in... (Review)
Review
Neuroblastoma is one of the few childhood cancers that carries a tumor-specific antigen in the form of a glycolipid antigen known as GD2. It has restricted expression in normal tissue, such as peripheral afferent nerves. Monoclonal antibodies targeting GD2 have been applied clinically to high-risk neuroblastoma with significant success. However, there are different anti-GD2 products and administration regimens. For example, anti-GD2 has been used in combination with chemotherapy during the induction phase or with retinoic acid during the maintenance stage. Regimens also vary in the choice of whether to add cytokines (i.e., IL-2, GMCSF, or both). Furthermore, the addition of an immune enhancer, such as β-glucan, or allogeneic natural killer cells also becomes a confounder in the interpretation. The question concerning which product or method of administration is superior remains to be determined. So far, most studies agree that adding anti-GD2 to the conventional treatment protocol can achieve better short- to intermediate-term event-free and overall survival, but the long-term efficacy remains to be verified. How to improve its efficacy is another challenge. Late relapse and central nervous system metastasis have emerged as new problems. The methods to overcome the mechanisms related to immune evasion or resistance to immunotherapy represent new challenges to be resolved. The newer anti-GD2 strategies, such as bispecific antibody linking of anti-GD2 with activated T cells or chimeric antigen receptor T cells, are currently under clinical trials, and they may become promising alternatives. The use of anti-GD2/GD3 tumor vaccine is a novel and potential approach to minimizing late relapse. How to induce GD2 expression from tumor cells using the epigenetic approach is a hot topic nowadays. We expect that anti-GD2 treatment can serve as a model for the use of monoclonal antibody immunotherapy against cancers in the future.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Child; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Immunotherapy; Neuroblastoma; Recurrence
PubMed: 35327550
DOI: 10.3390/biom12030358 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Apr 2022There is an alarming delay in Europe for anticancer medicines becoming accessible for children. Following a paediatric European Union marketing authorisation, national...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
There is an alarming delay in Europe for anticancer medicines becoming accessible for children. Following a paediatric European Union marketing authorisation, national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies evaluate effectiveness, and safety of medicines to support decision on their cost and reimbursement. This study (a SIOPE Access to Medicines project) aimed to evaluate how these HTA evaluations take place for anticancer medicines indicated for paediatric use in Europe and to explore where the delays for market access originate.
METHODS
We obtained HTA reports from the public domain for nine European countries for blinatumomab, dinutuximab beta and tisagenlecleucel. We evaluated the time elapsed between marketing authorisation for a paediatric indication and a national HTA decision and the nature of the decision.
RESULTS
Out of 23 HTA decisions (four countries without blinatumomab report), 18 were positive, two with restrictions, three negative. For blinatumomab, tisagenlecleucel and dinutuximab beta, the median time to an HTA decision after regulatory approval for paediatric use was 353 days (range 193-751), 141 days (range 77-517) and 515 days (range 0-780), respectively, with variability between countries. Dinutuximab beta and tisagenlecleucel were first introduced in children, but did not result in shorter time to HTA decision. For blinatumomab, marketing authorisation followed 1008 days after the indication in adults, with HTA applications submitted a median of 167 days later, and a recommendation after 145 days.
CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals ample variability in HTA decision making in nine European Union countries. Collaboration and alignment of required evidence is needed to facilitate robust scientific HTA assessments, also considering methodological challenges in paediatric oncology.
Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Europe; Humans; Medical Oncology; Neoplasms; Technology Assessment, Biomedical
PubMed: 35235871
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.01.034 -
Medicine Jan 2022Despite therapeutic advances, high-risk neuroblastoma is still associated with a poor long-term prognosis. Immunotherapy with the anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab beta has...
Despite therapeutic advances, high-risk neuroblastoma is still associated with a poor long-term prognosis. Immunotherapy with the anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab beta has recently been added to the standard of care for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma in our center in Bratislava, and our initial experience with dinutuximab beta has been reported previously. Here we provide a follow-up on the outcomes of 7 patients who were treated with dinutuximab beta under clinical practice conditions at our center.Medical records of 31 patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma between 2017 and 2020 at the Children's Hematology and Oncology Clinic in Bratislava were retrospectively reviewed and 7 patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who were treated with dinutuximab beta were identified. All 7 patients received dinutuximab beta as continuous infusion over 10 days at a dose of 10 mg/m2/day for 5 cycles, following induction and consolidation therapy. Supportive therapy was administered to manage adverse events. Clinical outcomes and treatment tolerance were evaluated.Six of 7 patients treated with dinutuximab beta achieved complete remission, with a median duration of response of 21.5 months as of January 2022, and 1 displayed stable disease 21 months after treatment completion. Treatment was tolerable in most patients, with the majority of adverse events managed with supportive care.Dinutuximab beta is an effective immunotherapy for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma in routine clinical practice when coupled with optimal supportive management of adverse events.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroblastoma; Retrospective Studies; Slovakia; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 35089239
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028716 -
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer Dec 2021
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Neuroblastoma; Neutrophils
PubMed: 34893526
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003983 -
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer Dec 2021
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Neuroblastoma; Neutrophils
PubMed: 34893525
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003751 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a pivotal role during embryogenesis and its deregulation is a key mechanism in the origin and progression of several tumors....
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a pivotal role during embryogenesis and its deregulation is a key mechanism in the origin and progression of several tumors. Wnt antagonists have been described as key modulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer, with Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) being the most studied member of the DKK family. Although the therapeutic potential of DKK-1 inhibition has been evaluated in several diseases and malignancies, little is known in pediatric tumors. Only a few works have studied the genetic inhibition and function of DKK-1 in rhabdomyosarcoma. Here, for the first time, we report the analysis of the therapeutic potential of DKK-1 pharmaceutical inhibition in rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. We performed DKK-1 inhibition via shRNA technology and via the chemical inhibitor WAY-2626211. Its inhibition led to β-catenin activation and the modulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), with positive effects on in vitro expression of myogenic markers and a reduction in proliferation and invasion. In addition, WAY-262611 was able to impair survival of tumor cells in vivo. Therefore, DKK-1 could constitute a molecular target, which could lead to novel therapeutic strategies in RMS, especially in those patients with high DKK-1 expression.
Topics: Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cell Line, Tumor; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Mice, SCID; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Muscles; MyoD Protein; Myogenin; Naphthalenes; Piperidines; Pyrimidines; RNA, Small Interfering; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; beta Catenin; Mice
PubMed: 34884726
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312921 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021Prognosis of metastatic neuroblastoma is very poor. Its treatment includes induction chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and maintenance with... (Review)
Review
Prognosis of metastatic neuroblastoma is very poor. Its treatment includes induction chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and maintenance with retinoic acid, associated with the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (ch14.18) dinutuximab. Immunotherapy determined a significant improvement in survival rate and is also utilized in relapsed and resistant neuroblastoma patients. Five courses of dinutuximab 100 mg/m are usually administered as a 10-day continuous infusion or over 5 consecutive days every 5 weeks. Dinutuximab targets the disialoganglioside GD2, which is highly expressed on neuroblastoma cells and minimally present on the surface of normal human neurons, peripheral pain fibers, and skin melanocytes. Anti GD2 antibodies bind to surface GD2 and determine the lysis of neuroblastoma cells induced by immune response via the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and the complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Dinutuximab has significant side effects, including neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathy, hypersensitivity reactions, capillary leak syndrome, photophobia, and hypotension. The most important side effect is neuropathic pain, which is triggered by the same antibody-antigen immune response, but generates ectopic activity in axons, which results in hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain. Pain can be severe especially in the first courses of dinutuximab infusion, and requires the administration of gabapentin and continuous morphine infusion. This paper will focus on the incidence, mechanisms, characteristics, and treatment of neuropathic pain and peripheral neuropathy due to dinutuximab administration in neuroblastoma patients.
Topics: Analgesics; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Gabapentin; Gangliosides; Humans; Morphine; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neuralgia; Neuroblastoma; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
PubMed: 34884452
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312648 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Mar 2022Cancer in neonates and infants is a rare but challenging entity. Treatment is complicated by marked physiological changes during the first year of life, excess rates of... (Review)
Review
Cancer in neonates and infants is a rare but challenging entity. Treatment is complicated by marked physiological changes during the first year of life, excess rates of toxicity, mortality, and late effects. Dose optimisation of chemotherapeutics may be an important step to improving outcomes. Body size-based dosing is used for most anticancer drugs used in infants. However, dose regimens are generally not evidence based, and dosing strategies are frequently inconsistent between tumour types and treatment protocols. In this review, we collate available pharmacological evidence supporting dosing regimens in infants for a wide range of cytotoxic drugs. A systematic review was conducted, and available data ranked by a level of evidence (1-5) and a grade of recommendation (A-D) provided on a consensus basis, with recommended dosing approaches indicated as appropriate. For 9 of 29 drugs (busulfan, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, etoposide, fludarabine, isotretinoin, melphalan and vincristine), grade A was scored, indicating sufficient pharmacological evidence to recommend a dosing algorithm for infants. For busulfan and carboplatin, sufficient data were available to recommend therapeutic drug monitoring in infants. For eight drugs (actinomycin D, blinatumomab, dinutuximab, doxorubicin, mercaptopurine, pegaspargase, thioguanine and topotecan), some pharmacological evidence was available to guide dosing (graded as B). For the remaining drugs, including commonly used agents such as cisplatin, cytarabine, ifosfamide, and methotrexate, pharmacological evidence for dosing in infants was limited or non-existent: grades C and D were scored for 10 and 2 drugs, respectively. The review provides clinically relevant evidence-based dosing guidance for cytotoxic drugs in neonates and infants.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Busulfan; Carboplatin; Etoposide; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 34865945
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.11.001 -
Clinical and Translational Medicine Oct 2021
Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Kinesins; Mice; Neuroblastoma
PubMed: 34709738
DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.533