Δευτέρα 5 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022

OS11.4.A Intrathecal delivery of dendritic cell vaccine eradicates tumor growth and protects against leptomeningeal disease re-inoculation in immunocompetent HER2+ and triple negative breast cancer leptomeningeal disease xenograft models

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Abstract
Background
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) occurs in ~5% of patients with breast cancer (BC) and has a median survival of 2-4 months. We found a loss of the anti-HER2 and anti-HER3 CD4 Th1 immune responses in BC patients. In pre-clinical and clinical trials the administration of class II HER2 peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine (HER2-DCV) partially restores anti-HER2 Th1 immune responses with pathologic complete responses in HER2+ BC patients. Here, we examined the intrathecal (IT) delivery of HER2/HER3-DCV in BC-LMD immunocompetent animal models.
Material and Methods
Luciferase-labeled HER2+ TUBO BCs were injected into the cisterna magna of BALB/c mice to produce LMD. We used our Murine Ommaya (mimics an Ommaya reservoir clinically in patients) for the IT administration of DCVs into the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
Results
BC-LMD mice were randomized into following groups: 1) HER2-DCV IT 2) HER3-DCV IT 3) HER2/HER3-DCV IT. The median survival of untreated (control) group was 15 days. All groups given DCV IT prolonged survival (p<0.001). Interestingly, HER2-/HER3-DCV IT was able to rescue disease mice (71% in HER2+ BC-LMD and 28% in triple negative breast cancer-LMD) and showed complete tumor regression. Some surviving mice were immune to subsequent tumor rechallenge. In mice CSF, we found evidence of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells infiltration, and robust IFN-gamma and IL18 response upon DCV treatment.
Conclusion
Our preclinical data supported a clinical trial (submitted) of the IT delivery of DCV in BC patients with LMD.
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P18.11.A Active beam scanning proton therapy for large skull base benign meningiomas: long-term results

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Abstract
Purpose
To report long-term results of active beam scanning proton therapy (PT) for large skull base benign meningiomas
Material and Methods
Eighty-two patients (pts) with large skull base meningiomas were treated with PT between April 2015 and December 2021. Median age was 62 years (range, 48-82) while KPS ranged between 60 and 100 (median 90); 60 were female (73%), and 22 were male (27%). Thirty-two pts (39%) had histologically proven World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I tumors. In remaining pts diagnosis was based on the typical imaging appearance of benign meningioma. All patients received PT for residual, progressive or non-operable lesions. Newly diagnosed tumors received total dose of 50 GyRBE (RBE: relative biologic effectiveness) while progressing meningiomas 54 GyRBE. All the treatments were delivered at 2 GyRBE per fraction. All pts were treated with active beam scanning PT using 3 fields with single field optimiz ation technique. Treatment planning was based on morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast enhancement medium administration. All pts received also 68-Ga-DOTATOC-PET. Gross tumor volume ranged from 21 to 64 cc. Toxicity was assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Median follow-up time was 40 months (range, 3-83).
Results
All pts completed the treatment without breaks. Registered acute side effects include grade 1 (19%) and grade 2 (8%) skin erythema, grade 1 (5%) and grade 2 (5%) alopecia, grade 1 (40%) fatigue, grade 1 (5%) and grade 2 (10%) conjunctivitis, grade 1 (10%) pain, grade 1 (5%) blurred vision, grade 1 (10%) headache, and grade 2 (5%) skin hyperpigmentation. One pts (1%) experienced grade 3 pain. There were no further grade 3 or higher acute toxicities. Registered late side effects include grade 1 (2%) and grade 2 (5%) alopecia, grade 1 (21%) fatigue, grade 1 (5%) and grade 2 (5%) headache, grade 1 (6% ) dizziness, grade 1 (3%) blurred vision, grade 1 (3%) and grade 2 (6%) pain, grade 1 (2%) dry eye, and grade 1 (5%) skin hyperpigmentation. Two pts (2%) experienced grade 3 pain. Two further pts (2%) experienced grade 3 optic neuropathy. There were no further grade 3 or higher late toxicities. During follow-up one pts (1%) with cavernous sinus meningioma experienced complete obstruction of intracavernous carotid artery with mild transient symptoms that resolved in few days and brain tissue ischemia detected at MRI (grade 2). Before irradiation this pts already had a meningioma-related near-complete obstruction of the intracavernous carotid artery and received a vascular surgery evaluation. Currently, absolute tumor control is 99%. Moreover, relief of symptoms recorded before irradiation occurred in 40% of pts.
Conclusion
PT is safe and effective treatment for pts with large skull base benign meningiomas.
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P03.05.A Radiation-induced leukoencephalopathy (RIL) in glioma: unique injury dynamics following proton vs photon beam radiotherapy

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Abstract
Background
White matter injury after brain-directed radiotherapy (RT), aka radiation-induced leukoencephalopathy (RIL), is common in brain tumor patients. Differentiation from progressive disease can be challenging. Dosimetric advantages of protons (PRT) over photons (XRT) minimize radiation to healthy brain tissue, potentially limiting radiotoxic sequelae including RIL. We characterized RIL during periods of progression-free survival (PFS) in glioma patients irradiated with either PRT or XRT, hypothesizing that PRT would result in reduced RIL outside of the target field.
Material and Methods
34 patients (19 male; mean age = 40.10y) with grade 2/3 gliomas and a history of partial cranial RT were stratified by RT modality [XRT (n=17) vs PRT (n=17)] and matched on 11 criteria [age, sex, tumor type/location/laterality, mutational status (IDH; 1p19q deletion), concurrent/adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation dose/fractions] for retrospe ctive analysis. RIL development was characterized longitudinally for up to 3 years post-RT via analysis of serial MRI T2/FLAIR sequences. A novel RIL scoring system with embedded Fazekas scale was designed to quantify injury severity at both global (whole brain) and hemispheric levels.
Results
Matched groups did not differ significantly on any demographic or clinical characteristics. Median PFS post-RT was 4.7 (XRT) and 5.1 (PRT) years. The novel RIL scoring system was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.9). There was a significant increase in global RIL in both XRT [F(3, 57)=8.63, p< .001] and PRT [F(3, 61)=4.69, p< .005] groups over time, relative to baseline (1-month post-RT). A majority [62% (XRT) and 72% (PRT)] developed moderate or severe RIL within 3 years, with the ipsilesional hemisphere more severely affected. Analysis of RIL injury dynamics (i.e., average % change between 1 and 3 years post-RT) at hemispheric level identified radiation modality-specific differences: XRT resulted in greater contralesional hemispheric injury than PRT [F(1, 31)=4.32, p<.05]. This effect was not observed in ipsilesional hemispheres.
Conclusion
RIL is common in glioma patients and quantifiable by characteristic imaging features, including early onset post-RT, greater ipsilesional injury burden, and progression over time. RIL injury dynamics appear to be radiation modality-specific, whereby XRT causes greater delayed injury in the remote, contralesional hemisphere. These findings may reflect dosimetric differences between protons and photons. The impact of such sequelae on cognitive function is subject of current investigation.
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KS04.6.A Epidemiology of adult meningioma in the Netherlands: a population-based study

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Abstract
Background
Meningiomas are the most common primary tumours of the central nervous system. As the majority of meningiomas are benign, initial management often consists of observation only. Consequently, estimates on meningioma incidence are generally considered too low, with many registries mainly depending on pathology notifications. With additional notification sources, this study provides more complete population-based estimates on the incidence, prevalence, and prognostic impact of meningioma diagnosis in the Netherlands.
Material and Methods
Data on patients diagnosed with meningioma during 2000-2019 were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), which was expanded to the Dutch Brain Tumour Registry (DBTR) for meningiomas as of 2016. In addition to histological confirmations, the NCR/DBTR receives case notifications from hospital administrative registrations on cost reimbursement and outpatient care. In addition, a data linkage was performed with a clinical database maintained by one of the Dutch neuro-oncology centres to evaluate local completeness of the NCR/DBTR. Time trends of the age-adjusted incidence rates were evaluated by calculating the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Relative survival rates were calculated using the Pohar-Perme estimator.
Results
From 2000 to 2019, a total of 22,605 cases of meningioma were registered; 11,423 (50.5%) were histologically confirmed, while 11,182 (49.5%) had a radiological diagnosis. Over time, incidence increased from 4.7 per 100,000 inhabitants (European Standardized Rate, ESR) to 10.7 (EAPC 4.6%, p<0.01); the incidence of radiological diagnosis increased from 1.2 to 6.9 per 100,000 ESR (EAPC 9.6%, p<0.01). Local data completeness was estimated at 98% for histologically confirmed meningiomas and 87% for radiological diagnoses. On the basis of these incidence estimates, the prevalence of meningioma is estimated at 105/100, 000 on January 1st of 2020, with over 17,500 individuals having had a diagnosis of meningioma at that moment. Relative survival rate at 5 years for grade I meningiomas was 94.8% (95%-confidence interval: 94.0%-95.4%), 84.0% (95%CI: 81.0%-86.5%) for grade II meningiomas, and 47.3% (95%CI: 38.2%-55.8%) for grade III meningiomas.
Conclusion
As the incidence estimates in this study may be considered most complete, the results obtained should approximate the true incidence, prevalence, and prognostic impact of meningioma diagnosis in the Netherlands.
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P12.08.A Uncovering the glioblastoma tumor-microenvironment by high-end multiplexing with imaging mass cytometry

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Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive cancers, and hypoxia plays an essential role in its tumor- microenvironment. Tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs) have been reported to constitute up to 30 % of the cells, a fraction that is even higher in hypoxic areas. Single-cell mRNA sequencing of glioblastoma tumors has revealed vast heterogeneity, but the spatial aspects are not entirely defined yet. The aim of this study was to uncover differences between the hypoxic and normoxic tumor-microenvironment of human glioblastoma by high-end multiplexing with imaging mass cytometry.
Material and Methods
A tissue microarray (TMA) with normoxic and hypoxic areas from 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastomas was prepared based on the hypoxia marker hypoxia-inducing factor 1 alpha (HIF1 alpha). The TMA was stained with 18 metal-tagged antibodies covering TAMs, lymphocytes, immune checkpoints, vessels, tumor cells and prolifera tion. The Hyperion-CYTOF technology was used to ablate the samples and the images were analyzed by MCD viewer, Visiopharm software, and customized R scripts.
Results
Single-cell analysis of 160 fields covering around 45,000 cells in the glioblastoma microenvironment revealed multiple cellular phenotypes. It was revealed that proliferating TAMs (IBA1+, Ki67+) were more frequent in hypoxia, whereas proliferating vessels (CD34+, Ki67+) were more frequent in normoxia. Additionally, proliferating stem-like tumor cells (OLIG-2+, Ki67+) were more frequent in normoxia regions.
Conclusion
Our study revealed multiple cellular phenotypes in the glioblastoma microenvironment. The TAMs, endothelial and tumor cell phenotypes revealed may play a critical role in glioblastoma biology however this needs to be elucidated in future studies.
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P11.61.B Capecitabine treatment of CNS metastases from breast cancer: intracranial response and survival

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Abstract
Background
20-30% of breast cancer patients develop brain metastases (BM) and 5% leptomeningeal metastases (LM). Incidence of BM and/or LM is dependent on breast cancer subtype. Treatment of BM consists of local treatment (resection and/or radiotherapy) and if possible systemic therapy. LM can be treated with radiotherapy of the symptomatic location of the nervous system and/or systemic therapy. Capecitabin is effective for both systemic metastases and BM of HER2-positive breast cancer. The effect of capecitabine in the non-HER2-positive breast cancers and in the LM group is largely unknown. The goal of this study is to determine the intracranial response of capecitabine and survival in HM and/or LM of the various breast cancer subtypes.
Material and Methods
breast cancer patients with HM and/or LM treated with capecitabine were selected retrospectively from a breast cancer patient cohort treated at the Netherlands Cancer Inst itute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek between 2005 and 2020. Follow-up MRI scans of the brains were performed in all patients. The primary endpoints were intracranial response, intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses for breast cancer subtypes and BM and LM patient groups were done.
Results
93 of 381 patients treated for CNS metastases of breast cancer fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sixty-one patients (66%) had HM only, 13 (14%) had LM only and 19 patients (20%) had both HM and LM. Forty-six percent of patients had HER2-positive breast cancer, 26% had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and 28% of patients had a triple negative subtype. After three months of capecitabine treatment intracranial response was 53%. Median OS in the patient group with intracranial response was 16.5 months versus 4.5 months in the non-response group. The hazard ratio (HR) for the median OS, corrected for radiotherapy and concurrently administered , other systemic therapy was 0.33 (95% CI: 0.17-0.67). Median intracranial PFS was 7.3 months in the response group versus 1.4 months in the non-response group (p<0.001).The corrected HR for median intracranial PFS 0.13 (95% CI 0.06-0.27). The HER2-positive subtype group showed the longest median OS (22 months) as compared to the other subtypes (OS in hormone-receptor positive and triple negative subtype both 12 months)
Conclusion
Fifty-three percent of breast cancer patients with HM and/or LM treated with capecitabine demonstrate an intracranial response after three months of treatment. HER2+ breast cancer patients with HM and/or LM have a longer survival than patients with hormone receptor-positive or triple negative breast cancer subtypes.
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P11.29.B Risk factors associated with the presence of brain metastasis at the moment of diagnosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Retrospective case series

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Abstract
Background
Lung cancer is the second most frequent neoplasm worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death in both sexes. Furthermore, it is the most common origin of brain metastases. The aim of this study is to identify clinical, histological, and molecular variables associated with a higher risk of presenting brain metastases at the moment of diagnosis in patients with lung cancer.
Material and Methods
A single-center retrospective case series analysis of patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer (from January 2015 to December 2018) was performed. A total of 723 total patients with a new diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were identified. Only patients with a brain imaging study at the time of diagnosis were included in the analysis. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to compare patients with or without metastases at the moment of diagnosis. A uni- and multivariate analysis were performed to identify risk factors associated with the presence of brain metastases at NSCLC diagnosis. Statistical significance was considered when p<0.05.
Results
We included 135 patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer and with brain imaging study at the time of diagnosis (mean age at diagnosis of 64.69 years [SD= 10.34]; 71.9% men). The most common histology was adenocarcinoma (67.1%) followed by squamous carcinoma (25.2%). Brain metastases were present in 40% of patients at diagnosis. No significant differences in clinical, histological and molecular variables was identified between patients with or without brain metastases. In any case, as expected, the survival analysis showed that brain metastasis at diagnosis was associated with a worse overall survival (Log-Rank test, p<0.01).The univariate analysis showed that presenting neurological symptoms (OR=19.5, p<0.0001 CI [7.895-47.65]), histology of adenocarcinoma (OR= 2.113, p<0.014 CI [1.160-3.849]) and the presence of vis ceral metastases (OR= 14.444, p<0.0001 CI [6.161-33.86]) were associated to the presence of brain metastases at diagnosis. The presence of metastases limited to the thorax (OR= 0.019, p<0.001 CI [0.003-0.146] was associated to be free of brain metastasis at NSCLC diagnosis. However, only neurological symptoms (OR= 20.290, p<0.0001 CI [4.953-83.118]), presenting visceral metastases (OR= 4.451, p<0.010 CI [1.458-13.777]) and/or metastases limited to the thorax (OR= 0.066, p<0.024 CI [0.006-0.010]) reached statistical significance in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusion
Neurological symptoms and the presence of visceral metastases are independent predictors or presenting brain metastasis at the moment of diagnosis in lung cancer patients. On the other hand, the presence of lung cancer disease confined in the thoracic cavity is associated with a lower risk to present brain metastasis
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P02.01.B The telomere maintenance mechanism spectrum and its dynamics in gliomas

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Abstract
The activation of the telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) is one of the critical drivers of cancer cell immortality. In gliomas, TERT expression and TERT promoter mutation are considered to reliably indicate telomerase activation, while ATRX mutation indicates alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). However, these relationships have not been extensively validated in tumor tissues. Here, we show through the direct measurement of telomerase activity and ALT in a large set of glioma samples that the TMM in glioma cannot be defined in the dichotomy of telomerase activity and ALT, regardless of TERT expression, TERT promoter mutation and ATRX mutation. Moreover, we observed that a considerable proportion of gli omas lack both telomerase activity and ALT (Neither group). And this Neither group exhibited evidence of slow growth potential. From a set of longitudinal samples from a separate cohort of glioma patients, we discovered that the TMM is not fixed but changes with glioma progression. Collectively, these results suggest that the TMM is a dynamic entity and that reflects the plasticity of the oncogenic biological status of tumor cells and that the TMM should be defined by the direct measurement of telomerase enzyme activity and evidence of ALT.
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P11.74.A Plexiform Neurofibromas prevalence and treatment modalities in a referral comprehensive cancer center

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Abstract
Background
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common tumor predisposition syndrome, with an incidence of 1/3500. Plexiform neurofibromas (PN) are benign tumors that can occur along the nerve sheath throughout the body, with unpredictable growth and with risk of malignant transformation. Symptoms will depend on their size and location, and include pain, deformity and functional impairment. There is a great variability in the PN severity and impact on quality-of-life (QOL). An unknown percentage of NF1 patients may need treatment, either medical and/or surgical.
Objectives
To assess the frequency of PN in a NF1 population followed in a comprehensive cancer center.
Material and Methods
Retrospective study. All patients with NF1 and PN followed in our center, between 31/12/2000 and 31/12/2021.
Results
Of 438 NF1 patients, 185 had PN (42%). 52 NF1 patients with PN were children (≤ 18). The most common sym ptoms were pain in 71 people (38,4%), deformity in 70 (37,8%) and functional impairment in 69 (37,3%). Several patients had a combination of these symptoms. Different treatment modalities were used for PN: medical, surgical or both. In this study, 54 patients (29,1%) were treated with MEK inhibitors (selumetinib), 74 patients (40%) were treated surgically and 12,4% (23) needed a combined approach (medical and surgical treatment).
Conclusion
PN are frequent in NF1 patients. A significant percentage is symptomatic and will require treatment, surgical, medical or both. There is no standard of care for PN NF1. The timing and sequence of medical and surgical treatment is yet to be defined.
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P02.10.A CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of SOX2 Regulatory Region 2 (SRR2) decreases SOX2 malignant activity in glioblastoma

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Abstract
Background
SOX2 is a transcription factor associated with stem cell activity in several tissues. SOX2 expression is elevated in a large proportion of cancers, such as glioblastoma (GB), the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. SOX2 acts as a relevant driver of GB progression and high levels are associated with the population of tumor initiating cells and poor patient outcome. Transcriptional regulation of SOX2 is complex and not fully understood. The SOX2 regulatory region 2 (SRR2) is located downstream of the SOX2 coding region and mediates SOX2 expression by the association of p21CIP1 and p27KIP1 to SRR2. In this study we dissected the role of SRR2 on SOX2 activity in GB.
Material and Methods
We deleted SRR2 (SRR2del) by CRISPR/Cas9 technology in U373 GB cells. We analyzed the expression of SOX2 and performed in vitro functional experiments. We accomplished rescue experiments overexpressing SOX2 in SRR2del cells and we studied the link between SOX2, p21CIP1 and p27KIP1. Finally, we carried out an in vivo carcinogenesis assay by the injection of SRR2del cells in immunodeficient mice.
Results
We report that the deletion of SRR2 in GB cells leads to a reduction of SOX2 expression, which was accompanied with an impairment of cell growth and proliferation as well as with a reduction of self-renewal capacity in vitro. These data reveal that SRR2 is required for SOX2 expression and that its deletion results in impaired tumorigenic capacity of GB cells. These effects correlated with an increased expression of p21CIP1 and p27KIP1 together with high levels of p53 in SRR2del cells. On the contrary, SRR2del cells presented decreased levels of stem cell markers, supporting the idea that SRR2 is necessary for the SOX2-mediated regulation of stemness pathways. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of SOX2 in SRR2del cells restored SOX2 expression as well as proliferation and stem cell properties, indicating that the expression and the oncogenic activity of SOX2 is regulated by SRR2. Additionally, our xenograft models re vealed that the lack of SRR2 impairs tumor initiation and growth in vivo. Tumors derived from SRR2del cells were significantly smaller compared to controls and exhibit low levels of SOX2, Ki67 and BMI1 but high levels of p21CIP1 and p27KIP1.
Conclusion
Our data confirm that the SRR2 regulates SOX2 expression and reveal that SRR2 deletion reduces SOX2 levels and halts malignant activity driven by SOX2 in GB.
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