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Pharmacological boosting of cGAS activation sensitizes chemotherapy by enhancing antitumor immunity.Cell Reports Mar 2023Enhancing chemosensitivity is one of the largest unmet medical needs in cancer therapy. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) connects genome instability caused by...
Enhancing chemosensitivity is one of the largest unmet medical needs in cancer therapy. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) connects genome instability caused by platinum-based chemotherapeutics to type I interferon (IFN) response. Here, by using a high-throughput small-molecule microarray-based screening of cGAS interacting compounds, we identify brivanib, known as a dual inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor, as a cGAS modulator. Brivanib markedly enhances cGAS-mediated type I IFN response in tumor cells treated with platinum. Mechanistically, brivanib directly targets cGAS and enhances its DNA binding affinity. Importantly, brivanib synergizes with cisplatin in tumor control by boosting CD8 T cell response in a tumor-intrinsic cGAS-dependent manner, which is further validated by a patient-derived tumor-like cell clusters model. Taken together, our findings identify cGAS as an unprecedented target of brivanib and provide a rationale for the combination of brivanib with platinum-based chemotherapeutics in cancer treatment.
Topics: Humans; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Triazines; Alanine; Nucleotidyltransferases; Interferons; Cisplatin; Antineoplastic Agents; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36943864
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112275 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Oct 2019Brivanib is a selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling. We performed a phase II randomised discontinuation... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Brivanib is a selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling. We performed a phase II randomised discontinuation trial of brivanib in 7 tumour types (soft-tissue sarcomas [STS], ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer [NSCLC], gastric/esophageal cancer and transitional cell carcinoma [TCC]).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
During a 12-week open-label lead-in period, patients received brivanib 800 mg daily and were evaluated for FGF2 status by immunohistochemistry. Patients with stable disease at week 12 were randomised to brivanib or placebo. A study steering committee evaluated week 12 response to determine if enrolment in a tumour type would continue. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS) for brivanib versus placebo in patients with FGF2-positive tumours.
RESULTS
A total of 595 patients were treated, and stable disease was observed at the week 12 randomisation point in all tumour types. Closure decisions were made for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, NSCLC, gastric cancer and TCC. Criteria for expansion were met for STS and ovarian cancer. In 53 randomised patients with STS and FGF2-positive tumours, the median PFS was 2.8 months for brivanib and 1.4 months for placebo (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.58, p = 0.08). For all randomised patients with sarcomas, the median PFS was 2.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-4.0) for those treated with brivanib compared with 1.4 months (95% CI: 1.3-1.6) for placebo (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.38-1.07; p = 0.09). In the 36 randomised patients with ovarian cancer and FGF2-positive tumours, the median PFS was 4.0 (95% CI: 2.6-4.2) months for brivanib and 2.0 months (95% CI: 1.2-2.7) for placebo (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.26-1.22). For all randomised patients with ovarian cancer, the median PFS in those randomised to brivanib was 4.0 months (95% CI: 2.6-4.2) and was 2.0 months (95% CI: 1.2-2.7) in those randomised to placebo (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.25-1.17; p = 0.11).
CONCLUSION
Brivanib demonstrated activity in STS and ovarian cancer with an acceptable safety profile. FGF2 expression, as defined in the protocol, is not a predictive biomarker of the efficacy of brivanib.
Topics: Aged; Alanine; Antineoplastic Agents; Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Prognosis; Survival Rate; Triazines; Withholding Treatment
PubMed: 31522033
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.07.024 -
PloS One 2023Oral multikinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) but may increase cost. This study...
BACKGROUND
Oral multikinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) but may increase cost. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of oral multikinase inhibitors and ICIs in the first-line treatment of patients with aHCC.
METHODS
A three-state Markov model was established to study the cost-effectiveness of drug treatment from the perspective of Chinese payers. The key outcomes in this study were total cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).
RESULTS
The total costs and QALYs of sorafenib, sunitinib, donafenib, lenvatinib, sorafenib plus erlotinib, linifanib, brivanib, sintilimab plus IBI305, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab were $9070 and 0.25, $9362 and 0.78, $33,814 and 0.45, $49,120 and 0.83, $63,064 and 0.81, $74,814 and 0.82, $81,995 and 0.82, $74083 and 0.85, and $104,188 and 0.84, respectively. The drug regimen with the lowest ICER was sunitinib ($551 per QALY), followed by lenvatinib ($68,869 per QALY). For oral multikinase inhibitors, the ICER of lenvatinib, sorafenib plus erlotinib, linifanib and brivanib compared with sunitinib was $779576, $1534,347, $1768,971, and $1963,064, respectively. For ICIs, sintilimab plus IBI305 is more cost effective than atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. The model was most sensitive to the price of sorafenib, the utility of PD, and the price of second-line drugs.
CONCLUSION
For oral multikinase inhibitors, the order of possible treatment options is sunitinib > lenvatinib > sorafenib plus erlotinib > linifanib > brivanib > donafenib. For ICIs, the order of possible treatment options is sintilimab plus IBI305 > atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Sorafenib; Bevacizumab; Sunitinib; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Liver Neoplasms; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Quality-Adjusted Life Years
PubMed: 37053300
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279786 -
Chinese Clinical Oncology Feb 2021Therapeutic options for advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have changed dramatically over the last 3 years. While surgical resection, orthotropic...
Therapeutic options for advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have changed dramatically over the last 3 years. While surgical resection, orthotropic liver transplantation, and localized therapeutic options such as ablation, radiation therapy, and embolization remain therapeutics of choice in localized disease, systemic therapy is the only option in advanced, metastatic HCC. Since the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approval of sorafenib in 2008, targeted therapies such as sunitinib, tivantinib, brivanib, erlotinib, and linifanib; monoclonal antibody- bevacizumab showed no meaningful improvement in treatment of HCC. However, with improved understanding on the molecular pathophysiology and tumor heterogeneity of HCC, we have made progress in expanding the therapeutic options in advanced HCC. Targeted therapy with lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and regorafenib; monoclonal antibody ramucirumab; immunotherapies nivolumab and pembrolizumab have demonstrated promising results in the clinical trials. The current work outlines the molecular mechanisms and tumorigenesis of HCC, a detailed discussion of the trial results of the approved therapies in HCC, future perspectives and potential options to overcome the challenges of systemic therapy in HCC.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Humans; Immunotherapy; Liver Neoplasms; Sorafenib
PubMed: 32434345
DOI: 10.21037/cco-20-117 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2021Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disorder worldwide, and its progressive form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a growing cause of liver... (Review)
Review
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disorder worldwide, and its progressive form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a growing cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lifestyle changes, which are capable of improving the prognosis, are hard to achieve, whereas a pharmacologic therapy able to combine efficacy and safety is still lacking. Looking at the pathophysiology of various liver diseases, such as NASH, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC, the process of angiogenesis is a key mechanism influencing the disease progression. The relationship between the worsening of chronic liver disease and angiogenesis may suggest a possible use of drugs with antiangiogenic activity as a tool to stop or slow the progression of the disorder. In this review, we highlight the available preclinical data supporting a role of known antiangiogenic drugs (e.g., sorafenib), or phytotherapeutic compounds with multiple mechanism of actions, including also antiangiogenic activities (e.g., berberine), in the treatment of NASH.
PubMed: 34681219
DOI: 10.3390/ph14100995 -
Cancer Medicine Aug 2023Trials of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have not demonstrated dramatic benefits in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), and this may be a function of poor patient... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Trials of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have not demonstrated dramatic benefits in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), and this may be a function of poor patient selection. TKI-induced hypertension is reportedly a surrogate marker for treatment benefit for some tumor types. Our objective was to determine whether hypertension was associated with benefit in the context of CRC treatment, and also to gain insight on the pathogenesis of TKI-induced hypertension by monitoring associated changes in the circulating metabolome.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Clinical data were acquired from clinical trial patients with metastatic CRC randomized to cetuximab ± the TKI brivanib (N = 750). Outcomes were evaluated as a function of treatment-induced hypertension. For metabolomic studies, plasma samples were taken at baseline, as well as at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Samples were submitted to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify treatment-related metabolomic changes associated with TKI-induced hypertension, compared to pre-treatment baseline. A model based on changes in metabolite concentrations was generated using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).
RESULTS
In the brivanib treated group, 95 patients had treatment-related hypertension within 12 weeks of initiating treatment. TKI-induced hypertension was not associated with a significantly higher response rate, nor was it associated with improved progression-free or overall survival. In metabolomic studies, 386 metabolites were identified. There were 29 metabolites that changed with treatment and distinguished patients with and without TKI-induced hypertension. The OPLS-DA model for brivanib-induced hypertension was significant and robust (R Y score = 0.89, Q Y score = 0.70, CV-ANOVA = 2.01 e-7). Notable metabolomic features previously reported in pre-eclampsia and associated with vasoconstriction were found.
CONCLUSION
TKI-induced hypertension was not associated with clinical benefit in metastatic CRC. We have identified changes in the metabolome that are associated with the development of worsening brivanib-induced hypertension that may be useful in future efforts of characterizing this toxicity.
Topics: Humans; Metabolomics; Colorectal Neoplasms; Metabolome; Triazines; Colonic Neoplasms; Rectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37329221
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6248 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2022Vascular-disrupting agents are an interesting class of anticancer compounds because of their combined mode of action in preventing new blood vessel formation and...
Vascular-disrupting agents are an interesting class of anticancer compounds because of their combined mode of action in preventing new blood vessel formation and disruption of already existing vasculature in the immediate microenvironment of solid tumors. The validation of vascular disruption properties of these drugs is rarely addressed due to the lack of proper angiogenesis models comprising mature and long-lived vascular-like networks. We herein report an indirect coculture model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) to form three-dimensional profuse vascular-like networks. HUVECs embedded and sandwiched in the collagen scaffold were cocultured with HDFs located outside the scaffold. The indirect coculture approach with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) producing HDFs triggered the formation of progressively maturing lumenized vascular-like networks of endothelial cells within less than 7 days, which have proven to be viably maintained in culture beyond day 21. Molecular weight-dependent Texas red-dextran permeability studies indicated high vascular barrier function of the generated networks. Their longevity allowed us to study the dose-dependent response upon treatment with the three known antiangiogenic and/or vascular disrupting agents brivanib, combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P), and 6´-sialylgalactose (SG) semi-quantitative brightfield and qualitative confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) image analysis. Compared to the reported data on efficacy of these drugs in terms of antiangiogenic and vascular disrupting effects, we observed similar trends with our 3D model, which are not reflected in conventional angiogenesis assays. High-vascular disruption under continuous treatment of the matured vascular-like network was observed at concentrations ≥3.5 ng·ml for CA4P and ≥300 nM for brivanib. In contrast, SG failed to induce any significant vascular disruption . This advanced model of a 3D vascular-like network allows for testing single and combinational antiangiogenic and vascular disrupting effects with optimized dosing and may thus bridge the gap between the and experiments in validating hits from high-throughput screening. Moreover, the physiological 3D environment mimicking assay is not only highly relevant to studies linked to cancer but also to the field of tissue regeneration.
PubMed: 35769106
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.888492 -
PloS One 2020A variety of targeted drug were developed and proved effective and safe in clinical trials. Our study aims to compare the efficacies and safety of different targeted... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
A variety of targeted drug were developed and proved effective and safe in clinical trials. Our study aims to compare the efficacies and safety of different targeted drugs in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for first-line treatment using a Bayesian network meta-analysis approach.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of advanced HCC patients that treated with different targeted drugs. Time to progress (TTP), overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) were calculated as hazard ratios (HRs). Objective response rate (ORR) and the proportion of Grade 3-5 adverse events (G3-5AE) were expressed as odds ratios (ORs). We pooled study-specific HRs and ORs using Bayesian network meta-analyses, and ranked first-line drugs by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA).
RESULTS
A total of 22 RCTs with 9288 patients were enrolled. Brivanib, linifanib, lenvatinib and sorafenib showed a significant improvement on TTP compared to placebo (HR range, 0.45-0.72). Sunitinib (HR = 1.99) and nintedanib (HR = 2.17) showed a significant decline on TTP compared to lenvatinib. Vandetanib (HR = 0.44) and sorafenib (HR = 0.73) showed a significant improvement on OS compared to placebo. There was no significant difference in PFS, ORR and G3-5AE across different drugs. According to cluster rank analysis, vandetanib was the drug with both more effective (OS) and more secure (G3-5AE) compared to Sor followed by nintedanib.
CONCLUSIONS
This network meta-analysis shows that vandetanib, linifanib, lenvatinib and nintedanib potentially may be the best substitution of sorafenib against advanced HCC as first-line targeted drugs. Vandetanib seems to be the best choise with low quality of evidence. For better survival, novel targeted treatment options for HCC are sorely needed.
Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bayes Theorem; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Case-Control Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Network Meta-Analysis; Prognosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Survival Rate
PubMed: 32134981
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229492 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology May 2021The majority of clinical trials of first-line systemic treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) used placebo or sorafenib as comparators, and there are limited data... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The majority of clinical trials of first-line systemic treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) used placebo or sorafenib as comparators, and there are limited data providing a cross comparison of treatments in this setting, especially for newly-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor combination treatments.
AIM
To systematically review and compare response rates, survival outcomes, and safety of first-line systemic therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Science Direct, the Cochrane Database, Excerpta Medica Database, and abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 annual congress. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials of systemic therapy enrolling adults with advanced/unresectable HCC. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials. A network meta-analysis was used to synthesize data and perform direct and indirect comparisons between treatments. value, a frequentist analog to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve, was used to rank treatments.
RESULTS
In total, 1398 articles were screened and 27 included. Treatments compared were atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, brivanib, donafenib, dovitinib, FOLFOX4, lenvatinib, linifanib, nintedanib, nivolumab, sorafenib, sunitinib, vandetanib, 11 sorafenib combination therapies, and three other combination therapies. For overall response rate, lenvatinib ranked 1/19, followed by atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and nivolumab. For progression-free survival (PFS), atezolizumab + bevacizumab was ranked 1/15, followed by lenvatinib. With the exception of atezolizumab + bevacizumab [hazard ratios (HR) = 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-1.25], the estimated HRs for PFS for all included treatments lenvatinib were > 1; however, the associated 95%CI passed through unity for bevacizumab plus erlotinib, linifanib, and FOLFOX4. For overall survival, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was ranked 1/25, followed by vandetanib 100 mg/d and donafinib, with lenvatinib ranked 6/25. Atezolizumab + bevacizumab was associated with a lower risk of death lenvatinib (HR = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.44-0.89), while the HR for overall survival for most other treatments lenvatinib had associated 95%CIs that passed through unity. Vandetanib 300 mg/d and 100 mg/d were ranked 1/13 and 2/13, respectively, for the lowest incidence of treatment terminations due to adverse events, followed by sorafenib (5/13), lenvatinib (10/13), and atezolizumab + bevacizumab (13/13).
CONCLUSION
There is not one single first-line treatment for advanced HCC associated with superior outcomes across all outcome measurements. Therefore, first-line systemic treatment should be selected based on individualized treatment goals.
Topics: Adult; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Network Meta-Analysis; Pyridines; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
PubMed: 34040331
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i19.2415 -
Oncotarget 2022Chemotherapy options for treating CRC have rapidly expanded in recent years, and few have predictive biomarkers. Oncologists are challenged with evidence-based selection... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Chemotherapy options for treating CRC have rapidly expanded in recent years, and few have predictive biomarkers. Oncologists are challenged with evidence-based selection of treatments, and response is evaluated retrospectively based on serial imaging beginning after 2-3 months. As a result, cumulative toxicities may appear in patients who will not benefit. Early recognition of non-benefit would reduce cumulative toxicities. Our objective was to determine treatment-related changes in the circulating metabolome corresponding to treatment futility.
METHODS
Metabolomic studies were performed on serial plasma samples from patients with CRC in a randomized controlled trial of cetuximab vs. cetuximab + brivanib ( = 188). GC-MS quantified named 94 metabolites and concentrations were evaluated at baseline, Weeks 1, 4 and 12 after treatment initiation. In a discovery cohort ( = 68), a model distinguishing changes in metabolites associated with radiographic disease progression and response was generated using OPLS-DA. A cohort of 120 patients was used for validation of the model.
RESULTS
By one week after treatment, a stable model of 21 metabolites could distinguish between progression and partial response (R2Y = 0.859; Q2Y = 0.605; = 5e-4). In the validation cohort, patients with the biomarker had a significantly shorter OS ( < 0.0001). In a separate cohort of patients with HCC on axitinib, appearance of the biomarker also signified a shorter PFS (1.7 months vs. 9.2 months, = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
We have identified changes in the metabolome that appear within 1 week of starting treatment associated with treatment futility. The novel approach described is applicable to future efforts in developing a biomarker for early assessment of treatment efficacy.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Axitinib; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cetuximab; Colonic Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Medical Futility; Rectal Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35028011
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28165