Brief Report: Safety of Pulse-Dose Osimertinib for Treatment of Leptomeningeal Disease or Refractory Brain Metastases in EGFR-Mutated Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) NSCLC is associated with high incidence of brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease (LMD), for which effective systemic options beyond osimertinib 80 and 160 mg daily are limited. While there is some evidence for high-dose pulse administration of earlier-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFK-TKIs), data for pulse-dose osimertinib are limited.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective case series included patients with EGFRm NSCLC with LMD or parenchymal brain metastases treated with pulse-dose osimertinib (400-560 mg once every 5-7 days) for central nervous system (CNS) progression, with or without other concurrent therapies.

Clinical strategies for lung cancer management: Recommendations from the Bridging the Gaps Lung Cancer Consensus Conference 2024.

Clinical practice guidelines for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer include recommendations based on high-level clinical trial evidence, but complex clinical questions are frequently seen in real-world practice that are not clearly answered by prospective trial data. To address these questions, the Bridging the Gaps Lung Cancer Consensus Conference 2024 (BtG LCCC 2024) convened to develop US-focused expert guidance for clinical situations in which level 1 evidence is lacking. At BtG LCCC 2024, a multidisciplinary expert panel discussed ongoing clinical issues in small cell lung cancer management, targeted therapy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC, management of early stage NSCLC, identification and management of non-EGFR oncogene-driven NSCLC, and use of immunotherapy in advanced/metastatic NSCLC.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IA-IIA non-squamous, non-small-cell lung cancer identified as molecular high-risk by a 14-gene expression profile (AIM-HIGH): an international, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: Survival for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unacceptably low, even in stage IA-IIA. Current guidelines recommend adjuvant treatment for patients considered to be at high risk in stages IB and IIA, but suggest criteria that have not been validated to predict benefit. A previously validated, CLIA-certified 14-gene expression profile has identified patients with high-risk non-squamous NSCLC tumours in stages IA-IIA who benefitted from adjuvant chemotherapy in a non-randomised prospective study.

International society of liquid biopsy (ISLB) perspective on minimal requirements for ctDNA testing in solid tumors.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing has transformed precision oncology by enabling the non-invasive detection of actionable mutations. To facilitate broader clinical adoption and improve testing accuracy, standardized quality criteria must be clearly defined and universally implemented. The International Society of Liquid Biopsy (ISLB) established the Quality Control and Accreditation Committee to develop consensus-based minimal standards for ctDNA analysis in oncology.

A Phase 1/1B Trial of Pembrolizumab and Trametinib in Advanced NSCLC Enriched for KRAS Mutations.

Introduction: MEK inhibition (MEKi) combined with programmed death ligand 1 inhibition (immune checkpoint inhibitor [ICI]) modulates the tumor immune microenvironment. This phase 1 study evaluated sequencing schemes of MEKi and ICI with trametinib and pembrolizumab in NSCLC.

Methods: In this 3+3 dose escalation study, patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with lead-in trametinib (arm A) or lead-in pembrolizumab (arm B) for cycle 1, followed by a 1.

Elevated ctDNA Tumor Fraction Is Associated with Improved Mutation Detection but Worse Overall Survival in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Lung-MAP Study.

Purpose: ctDNA is a powerful diagnostic companion to tissue profiling. Tumor fraction (TF) is a global assessment of an individual's ctDNA burden. We evaluated the impact of plasma TF on mutation detection and clinical outcomes in patients with previously treated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer on the Lung Master Protocol (Lung-MAP).

Decoding resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer: a comprehensive analysis of plasma proteomics and therapeutic implications.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown substantial benefit for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance to ICIs remains a major clinical challenge. Here, we perform a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of plasma proteomic profiles to explore the underlying biology of treatment resistance in NSCLC.

Genetic Ancestry and Lung Cancer in Latin American Patients: A Crucial Step for Understanding a Diverse Population.

Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Latin America. While incidence and mortality rates are higher in other populations, the ``Hispanic paradox'' observed in US Hispanics reflects a lower mortality rate for mortality from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) despite socioeconomic disparities, which may be related to epigenetic and cultural factors. Genetic studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ancestry as key contributors to lung cancer risk and outcomes, emphasizing the importance of genomic insights for early detection and personalized treatments.

Tumor mutational burden and survival on immune checkpoint inhibition in >8000 patients across 24 cancer types.

Background: There is uncertainty around clinical applicability of tumor mutational burden (TMB) across cancer types, in part because of inconsistency between TMB measurements from different platforms. The KEYNOTE 158 trial supported United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Foundation Medicine test (FoundationOneCDx) at TMB≥10 mut/Mb as a companion diagnostic (CDx) for single-agent pembrolizumab in second+line. Using a large real-world dataset with validated survival endpoint data, we evaluated clinical validity of TMB measurement by the test in over 8000 patients across 24 cancer types who received single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI).

S1701, A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Carboplatin-Paclitaxel With and Without Ramucirumab in Patients With Locally Advanced, Recurrent, or Metastatic Thymic Carcinoma.

Introduction: Thymic carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with few treatment options. Preclinical studies suggested that targeting the angiogenic pathway may be beneficial in this disease.

Methods: This randomized phase 2 trial enrolled patients with unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic thymic carcinoma.

Unveiling the impact of circulating tumor cells: Two decades of discovery and clinical advancements in solid tumors.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enumeration and molecular profiling hold promise in revolutionizing the management of solid tumors. Their understanding has evolved significantly over the past two decades, encompassing pivotal biological discoveries and clinical studies across various malignancies. While for some tumor types, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, CTCs are ready to enter clinical practice, for others, additional research is required.

Lung-MAP Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Advanced Squamous Cell Lung Cancers (SWOG S1400).

Introduction: Squamous cell cancer (SqCC) is a lung cancer subtype with few targeted therapy options. Molecular characterization, that is, by next-generation sequencing (NGS), is needed to identify potential targets. Lung Cancer Master Protocol Southwest Oncology Group S1400 enrolled patients with previously treated stage IV or recurrent SqCC to assess NGS biomarkers for therapeutic sub-studies.

Impact of PROphet Test in Changing Physicians' Therapeutic Decision-Making for Checkpoint Immunotherapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) regimens are approved for first-line treatment of metastatic nononcogene-driven NSCLC. Guidelines do not differentiate which patients with PD-L1 ≥ 50% should receive ICI monotherapy. The clinically validated PROphet NSCLC plasma proteomic-based test is designed to inform this therapeutic decision.

CNS Antitumor Activity of Amivantamab With Osimertinib in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Acquired Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition Amplification Resistance Mechanism: A Case Report.

NSCLC w/EGFRex19del & MET amp: durable intracranial + systemic response to amivantamab/osimertinib.

Plasma Proteome-Based Test for First-Line Treatment Selection in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Current guidelines for the management of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without driver mutations recommend checkpoint immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. This approach fails to account for individual patient variability and host immune factors and often results in less-than-ideal outcomes. To address the limitations of the current guidelines, we developed and subsequently blindly validated a machine learning algorithm using pretreatment plasma proteomic profiles for personalized treatment decisions.

Representativeness of Patients Enrolled in the Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP).

Purpose: Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP), a public-private partnership, established infrastructure for conducting a biomarker-driven master protocol in molecularly targeted therapies. We compared characteristics of patients enrolled in Lung-MAP with those of patients in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) trials to examine if master protocols improve trial access.

Methods: We examined patients enrolled in Lung-MAP (2014-2020) according to sociodemographic characteristics.

Phase II Study of Docetaxel and Trametinib in Patients with KRAS Mutation Positive Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC; SWOG S1507, NCT-02642042).

Purpose: Efficacy of MEK inhibitors in KRAS+ NSCLC may differ based on specific KRAS mutations and comutations. Our hypothesis was that docetaxel and trametinib would improve activity in KRAS+ NSCLC and specifically in KRAS G12C NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: S1507 is a single-arm phase II study assessing the response rate (RR) with docetaxel plus trametinib in recurrent KRAS+ NSCLC and secondarily in the G12C subset.

Convergence of Precision Oncology and Liquid Biopsy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

This review article illuminates the role of liquid biopsy in the continuum of care for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We discuss its current application in advanced-stage NSCLC at the time of diagnosis and at progression. We highlight research showing that concurrent testing of blood and tissue yields faster, more informative, and cheaper answers than the standard stepwise approach.

Quality-of-life outcomes and risk prediction for patients randomized to nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs nivolumab on LungMAP-S1400I.

Background: An important issue for patients with cancer treated with novel therapeutics is how they weigh the effects of treatment on survival and quality of life (QOL). We compared QOL in patients enrolled to SWOG S1400I, a substudy of the LungMAP biomarker-driven master protocol.

Methods: SWOG S1400I was a randomized phase III trial comparing nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs nivolumab for treatment of immunotherapy-naïve disease in advanced squamous cell lung cancer.

27-gene Immuno-Oncology (IO) Score is Associated With Efficacy of Checkpoint Immunotherapy in Advanced NSCLC: A Retrospective BC Cancer Study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are standard of care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, not all patients benefit, even among PD-L1 tumor proportional score (TPS) ≥50%, indicating an unmet need for additional biomarkers such as those assessing the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). DetermaIO is a 27-gene assay that classifies TIME and has previously demonstrated association with ICI response.