Low-dose oral etoposide is an active option for patients with heavily pre-treated thymic epithelial tumors.

Authors

null

Margaret Ottaviano

Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy

Margaret Ottaviano , Marianna Tortora , Mario Giuliano , Daniela Terracciano , Vincenzo Di Lauro , Fernanda Picozzi , Sara Parola , Vittorio Riccio , Pietro De Placido , Erica Pietroluongo , Antonietta Liotti , Evelina La Civita , Gianluca Guggino , Marcellino Cicalese , Carlo Curcio , Michele Longo , Gerardo Botti , Bruno Daniele , Sabino De Placido , Giovannella Palmieri

Organizations

Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy, CRCTR Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Oncology Unit, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy, Naples, Italy, Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Oncology Division, University Federico II, Naples, Italy, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Oncology Division, University Federico II, Napoli, Italy, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy;, Naples, Italy, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Antonio Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, Naples, Italy, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Napoli Irccs Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy, Azienda Ospedaliera G. Rummo, Benevento, Italy, CRCTR Rare Tumors Reference Centre Campania Region, University Federico II, Naples, Italy

Research Funding

Other
CRCTR (Reference Rare Tumors Center of Campania Region)

Background: Platinum based regimens are used in the first line setting for advanced Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs). Angiogenesis plays an important role in TETs: VEGF is overexpressed in TETs, and associated with aggressiveness and advanced stage. Etoposide inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo by decreasing VEGF production and microvessel density. The aim of this study is to assess the activity of metronomic oral etoposide, with identification of circulating predictive and pharmacodynamics biomarkers. Methods: Patients with advanced platinum pretreated TET referred from 2014 to 2019 at Rare Tumors Reference Center of Naples, were prospectively enrolled in this study. Oral etoposide 50 mg daily for 3 weeks on and 1 week off every 28 days, has been delivered until progression of disease, complete response or unacceptable toxicity. Response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS), toxicity and ratio between time to etoposide progression (TTPe) and time to previous best treatment progression (TTPp) were evaluated. Serum samples were prospectively obtained from ten patients with simultaneously radiological assessment. cfDNA quantification was assessed using Qubit Fluorometric Quantitation. Results: 21 patients were enrolled: median age 59 years range (41 - 88); 70% male, 60% T (4 B1, 3 B2, 4 B3, 1 B1-B2); 40% had TC. A median of 5 (range 1-9) prior therapy regimens had been administered. Median follow-up since etoposide was 5 years (range 0.5-5). Obtaining an overall response rate of 85%, 3 patients achieved complete response and 15 partial response. Median PFS was 16 months [95%CI 3-60] with respectively a median PFS of 12 for T (95%CI 3-38) and 19 for TC (95%CI 6-60). No grade 3-4 related events occurred, G1-2 myelotoxicity has been registered in 20% of patients. Therapy is still ongoing for 15 patients and all are still alive. Median TTPe was 16 months, TTPp was 9 months and TTPe / TTPp ratio equal to 1.7. The median cfDNA of 8 responder patients, before starting therapy, was 2.2 ng/μl (0.178-5.24), dropping dramatically at radiological response to 0.5 ng/μl (0.323-2.56). 2 out of 3 non-responder patients had a median baseline value of 2.49 ng/μl, increasing to 4.6 ng/μl at progression. Variation of circulating VEGF correlates with radiological response. Conclusions: Taking into account that other antiangiogenic drugs, showing some activity in second and further lines treatment, are very expensive and associated with several side effects, we suggest that low dose oral etoposide might become the preferred treatment option in heavily pretreated TETs.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers

Track

Lung Cancer

Sub Track

Thymic Malignancies

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38: 2020 (suppl; abstr 9074)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.9074

Abstract #

9074

Poster Bd #

267

Abstract Disclosures

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