Publications by authors named "Adrian Sacher"

Background: Manual extraction of real-world clinical data for research can be time-consuming and prone to error. We assessed the feasibility of using natural language processing (NLP), an AI technique, to automate data extraction for patients with advanced lung cancer (aLC). We assessed the external validity of our NLP-extracted data by comparing our findings to those reported in the literature.

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Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly heterogeneous disease that is frequently associated with a host of known oncogenic alterations. Advances in molecular diagnostics and drug development have facilitated the targeting of novel alterations such that the majority of NSCLC patients have driver mutations that are now clinically actionable. The goal of this review is to gain insights into clinical research and development principles by summary, analysis, and discussion of data on agents targeting known alterations in oncogene-driven, advanced NSCLC beyond those in the and the .

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Background: Given advancements in adjuvant treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-targeted therapies, it is important to consider postoperative targeted therapies for other early-stage oncogene-addicted NSCLC. Exploring baseline outcomes for early-stage NSCLC with these rare mutations is crucial.

Objectives: This study aims to assess relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with resected early-stage NSCLC with rare targetable driver mutations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dual immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) using CTLA4 and PD-(L)1 inhibitors shows improved anti-tumor effectiveness and immune toxicity compared to PD-(L)1 inhibitors alone in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
  • Patients with mutations in STK11 and/or KEAP1 genes benefit more from the combination treatment compared to those receiving only PD-(L)1 inhibitors, as shown in the POSEIDON trial.
  • The loss of KEAP1 serves as a strong predictor for the success of dual ICB, as it leads to a more favorable outcome by changing the tumor's immune environment to better engage CD4 and CD8 T cells for anti-tumor activity. *
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Background: We evaluated outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who presented with brain-only metastatic (BOM) disease overall and by EGFR/ALK mutation status.

Methods: We analyzed clinico-demographic, treatment and survival data for all NSCLC patients who presented to our center between 2014 and 2016 with BOM as their first presentation of metastatic disease. Differences in overall survival (OS) were evaluated using log-rank tests for NSCLC wildtype (NSCLCwt NSCLC with an ALK-rearrangement/EGFR-mutation (NSCLCmut+).

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In advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), routine testing with next-generation sequencing (NGS) is recommended to identify actionable genomic alterations (AGAs). The therapeutic implications of repeated NGS testing on synchronous and metachronous tumors are unclear. Between February 2017 and October 2020, NSCLC samples from a single institution were reflex-tested using a targeted 15-gene NGS panel (TruSight Tumor 15, Illumina).

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Objectives: KRAS mutations, particularly KRAS, are prevalent in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a frontline treatment, but recently developed KRAS-selective inhibitors, such as sotorasib, present new therapeutic options. We conducted a multi-center retrospective cohort study to gain insights into real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with KRAS-positive advanced NSCLC receiving systemic therapy post-ICI treatment.

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Purpose: To inform prognosis, treatment response, disease biology, and KRAS G12C mutation heterogeneity, we conducted exploratory circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling on 134 patients with solid tumors harboring a KRAS G12C mutation treated with single-agent divarasib (GDC-6036) in a phase 1 study.

Experimental Design: Plasma samples were collected for serial ctDNA profiling at baseline (cycle 1 day 1 prior to treatment) and multiple on-treatment time points (cycle 1 day 15 and cycle 3 day 1).

Results: KRAS G12C ctDNA was detectable from plasma samples in 72.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastases are often treated with osimertinib, but the effectiveness of adding stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is uncertain.
  • This study proposes a meta-analysis of existing trials to determine if SRS combined with osimertinib improves control of brain metastases compared to osimertinib alone.
  • The research will evaluate various outcomes, including intracranial progression-free survival and overall survival, and will be shared with the medical community and patients through publications and presentations.*
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Background: The 2018 ASCO pleural mesothelioma (PM) treatment guideline states that "a trial of expectant observation may be offered" in patients with asymptomatic inoperable epithelioid mesothelioma with low disease burden. The aim of our analysis was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes in PM-patients managed with initial observation and deferred treatment initiation.

Methods: We retrospectively collected clinicodemograhic and outcome data of patients with inoperable PM.

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Article Synopsis
  • NK cells have both inflammatory and immunoregulatory roles in healthy and diseased conditions, particularly in chronic viral infections and cancer where they can inhibit adaptive immune responses.
  • Research explored how TGF-β1, in combination with IL-15, can polarize human NK cells into immunosuppressive subsets with unique markers, revealing a potential pathway for their development.
  • The study found that TGF-β1/IL-15-induced NK-like cells are capable of suppressing CD4+ T cell activity, highlighting their potential immunosuppressive function in TGF-β1-rich environments such as those found in cancer.
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Real-world evidence for patients with advanced -mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Canada is limited. This study's objective was to use previously validated DARWEN artificial intelligence (AI) to extract data from electronic heath records of patients with non-squamous NSCLC at University Health Network (UHN) to describe mutation prevalence, treatment patterns, and outcomes. Of 2154 patients with NSCLC, 613 had advanced disease.

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Therapeutic approaches for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain limited; however, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies may offer novel treatment options. CTX130, an allogeneic CD70-targeting CAR T-cell product, was developed for the treatment of advanced or refractory ccRCC. We report that CTX130 showed favorable preclinical proliferation and cytotoxicity profiles and completely regressed RCC xenograft tumors.

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Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are indicated for metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC), but predictive and prognostic factors are lacking. We investigated clinical variables associated with ICI outcomes.

Methods: We performed a multicentre retrospective cohort study of 135 patients who received ICI for mUC, 2016-2021, at three Canadian centres.

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KRAS G12C mutation is prevalent in ~4% of colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with poor prognosis. Divarasib, a KRAS G12C inhibitor, has shown modest activity as a single agent in KRAS G12C-positive CRC at 400 mg. Epidermal growth factor receptor has been recognized as a major upstream activator of RAS-MAPK signaling, a proposed key mechanism of resistance to KRAS G12C inhibition in CRC.

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Close monitoring after diagnosis of patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may result in fitter patients with lower disease burden at the time of metastatic recurrence or progression compared to patients diagnosed initially as stage IV (de novo). We compared the presentation, treatments, and outcomes of patients with KRAS-mutated NSCLC with de novo versus recurrent stage IV disease. Of 109 patients, 94% had a smoking history.

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Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has shown promise in capturing primary resistance to immunotherapy. BR.36 is a multi-center, randomized, ctDNA-directed, phase 2 trial of molecular response-adaptive immuno-chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer.

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Introduction: NSCLC with exon 14 skipping mutation (ex14) is associated with poor outcomes. Integration of novel targeted therapies is challenging because of barriers in testing and drug access. We, therefore, sought to characterize the treatment patterns, outcomes, and emerging issues of treatment sequencing in patients with ex14-mutant NSCLC.

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Background: Divarasib (GDC-6036) is a covalent KRAS G12C inhibitor that was designed to have high potency and selectivity.

Methods: In a phase 1 study, we evaluated divarasib administered orally once daily (at doses ranging from 50 to 400 mg) in patients who had advanced or metastatic solid tumors that harbor a G12C mutation. The primary objective was an assessment of safety; pharmacokinetics, investigator-evaluated antitumor activity, and biomarkers of response and resistance were also assessed.

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Activating mutations in , in particular, a point mutation leading to a glycine-to-cysteine substitution at codon 12 (G12C), are among the most frequent genomic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several agents targeting KRAS G12C have recently entered clinical development. Sotorasib, a first-in-class specific small molecule that irreversibly inhibits KRAS G12C, has since obtained Health Canada approval.

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Importance: Liquid biopsy has emerged as a complement to tumor tissue profiling for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The optimal way to integrate liquid biopsy into the diagnostic algorithm for patients with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) genotyping before tissue diagnosis among patients with suspected advanced NSCLC and its association with time to treatment.

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JCO In the longest follow-up, to our knowledge, for a KRAS inhibitor, we assessed the long-term efficacy, safety, and biomarkers of sotorasib in patients with G12C-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the CodeBreaK 100 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03600883). This multicenter, single-group, open-label phase I/phase II trial enrolled 174 patients with G12C-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after progression on prior therapies.

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Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog mutations are observed in 25% of lung adenocarcinoma and 40% of these are G12C mutations. Historically, no approved targeted agents were available for patients with any mutation, and response rates to standard-of-care therapies were suboptimal. Newly developed inhibitors directed toward KRAS have been successful in clinical trials with overall response rates ranging between 32% and 46%, and two FDA approvals were granted in May 2021 and December 2022 as second-line or later monotherapies.

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Background: On May 28, 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to sotorasib for second-line or later treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This was the first FDA-approved targeted therapy for this patient population. Due to a paucity of real world data describing clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C mutated NSCLC in the second-line or later, we sought to compile a large, academic medical center-based historical dataset to clarify clinical outcomes in this patient population.

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