PracticeUpdate: Haematology & Oncology

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY 2016 ANNUAL MEETING 10

Dr Annette Hasenburg discusses key trials presented at ASCO 2016 on gynaecological cancers

Annette Hasenburg, Prof. Dr. med, is the Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mainz University Medical Center in Mainz, Germany. She is Head of the European Society of Gynaecologic Oncology Task Force Psycho-Oncology, and is on the board of directors of the Institute of Sexuality and Health of the University Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany.

function, global health status, and abdominal/ GI symptoms were shown to be independent predictors for overall survival (all P < 0.001). The same QOL domains were significantly associated with stopping chemotherapy within 8 weeks (all P < 0.007). • QOL evaluation can help identify patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer who are unlikely to benefit from palliative chemotherapy. Pembrolizumab in patients with advanced cervical squamous cell cancer: Preliminary results from the phase Ib KEYNOTE-028 study. J-S Frenel, C Le Tourneau, BH O’Neil, et al • In this phase IB trial, 24 patients with PD-L1- positive advanced cervical squamous cell cancer received pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody. Partial responses were observed in 3 patients (12.5%), with a median duration of response of 19.3 weeks. Stable disease occurred in 3 patients (12.5%), with a median duration of 19.6 weeks. The 6-month progression-free survival rate was 13.0% and the 6-month overall survival rate was 66.7%. Treatment-related adverse events were experienced by 18 patients (75%), with the most common being pyrexia and rash. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were experienced by 5 patients (20.8%). • The investigators concluded that pembrolizumab shows promising antitumour activity and was well-tolerated in patients with PD-L1-positive advanced cervical cancer. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PDL1 expression in ovarian cancer (OC): Evolution with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and prognostic value. S Mesnage, C Genestie, A Auguste, et al • In a retrospective study, investigators evaluated the levels of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-L1 expression in ovarian cancer samples from 113 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. They found that 22% of tumours had high levels of stromal TILs prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In 52% of evaluable paired samples (n = 83), stromal TILs were elevated following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In paired samples where PD-L1 was evaluable (n =  27), 30% of tumours were PD-L1-positive prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 63% were PD-L1-positive following. High levels of stromal TILs were an independent positive prognostic factor (HR, 0.49; P = 0.02).

Hormonal maintenance therapy for women with low grade serous carcinoma of the ovary or peritoneum. DM Gershenson, DC Bodurka, RL Coleman, et al • In a retrospective study, investigators evaluated the effect of hormonal maintenance therapy (HMT) versus surveillance following primary treatment in 180 patients with stage II–IV low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary or peritoneum. Compared with surveillance, HMT significantly increased progression-free survival (52.0 months vs 29.9 months; P = 0.001) and reduced the risk of recurrence (HR, 0.21; P < 0.001). • HMT may present an option in women with this subtype of relatively chemo-resistant tumours. Additional prospective studies are warranted. Overall survival in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer receiving olaparib maintenance monotherapy: An interim analysis. JA Ledermann, P Harter, C Gourley, et al • In this interim analysis (77% maturity) of a phase 2 study, investigators evaluated the effect of maintenance monotherapy with olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, in patients with platinum- sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer. Olaparib, compared with placebo, increased overall survival (29.8 vs 27.8 months; HR, 0.73); the benefit of was greater in patients with a BRCA1/2 mutation (34.9 vs 30.2 months; HR, 0.62). • Maintenance therapy with olaparib after a response to platinum therapy provides an overall survival advantage in patients with serous ovarian cancer. Phase II study of everolimus, letrozole, and metformin in women with advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer. PT Soliman, SN Westin, DA Iglesias, et al • In this phase 2 study, the efficacy of everolimus, letrozole, and metformin combination therapy was assessed in 48 evaluable patients with advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer. • The clinical benefit rate was 66.7%; this was not affected by KRAS mutation status. Baseline quality of life as a predictor of stopping chemotherapy early, and of overall survival, in platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer: The GCIG symptombenefit study. F Roncolato, R O’Connell, L Buizen, et al • Investigators evaluated 545 patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer to identify baseline quality-of-life domains associated with premature termination of palliative chemotherapy. Physical function, role

PRACTICEUPDATE HAEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY