Roger Stupp

Bio: Roger Stupp is an academic researcher from Northwestern University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Temozolomide & Glioma. The author has an hindex of 93, co-authored 430 publications receiving 63025 citations. Previous affiliations of Roger Stupp include Merck & Co. & University of St. Gallen.

Reply to F. Felix et al and M.F. Fay et al

Abstract: In our recent article in Journal of Clinical Oncology titled, “Does Valproic Acid or Levetiracetam Improve Survival in Glioblastoma? A Pooled Analysis of Prospective Clinical Trials in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma,” we reported that drug repurposing has attracted a lot of interest, specifically in glioblastoma, given the disappointing results obtained with initially promising, but ultimately inactive novel treatments and the availability of large databases suitable for exploratory analyses. In that regard, the potential impact on survival of the anticonvulsant drug, valproic acid, has been in focus for more than a decade. Yet, the pooled analysis of several contemporary clinical trials that enrolled almost 2,000 patients, which set out to strengthen the rationale for testing valproic acid in a randomized definitive phase III trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma, failed to provide an adequate signal to support such a hypothesis in an otherwise molecularly unselected group of adult glioblastoma. Felix and Fontenele rightly raise the issue that patients in these trials were not enriched for any biomarker that predicted potential benefit from valproic acid and propose that valproic acid be tested specifically in pediatric patients with H3F3A mutation, mostly pontine gliomas. There is a possible biologic and molecular rationale to explore valproic acid in this subgroup of patients on the basis of the predicted epigenetic effects of valproic acid; however, three issues arise. First, such patients are relatively rare among those with glioblastoma and are underrepresented in the patient cohorts studied in the trials compiled for our analysis despite that our study included almost 2,000 patients (which underscores the rarity of this target). Second, the concentrations of valproic acid required to inhibit histone deacetylases may not be reached in human patients in vivo. Third, is valproic acid truly the best histone deacetylase inhibitor to study in this context? Fay et al raise some methodological issues about our analysis. They express concerns that confounders were not sufficiently analyzed, but the analysis we presented was adjusted for known important confounding factors, including O-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation status, and probably represents one of the best efforts that could be done in the context of clinical trial database analysis. The issue that sicker patients with larger tumors were more likely to have received valproic acid due to associated seizures was not substantiated by our database; there were no particular clinical characteristics of valproic acid–treated patients that differed from those not receiving it. That physicians would be less inclined to give valproic acid to patients with larger tumors with a higher bleeding propensity would argue against the authors’ hypothesis that we overlooked an effect of valproic acid because this would provide an even stronger bias in favor of superior survival in the valproic acid groups. As discussed in the present publication as well as in the initial report, the major weakness we acknowledge is the lack of solid data on the dose and duration of valproic acid exposure. Yet, the analysis was repeated at clinically relevant time points (at baseline and after concomitant temozolomide/radiotherapy) with the same conclusions. It is conceivable that for a beneficial effect in glioblastoma, early and high-dose treatment with valproic acid would be required, although no categorical data truly support this contention. Thus, we contend that analyses such as those reported here are not suitable to completely rule out an effect of valproic acid on outcome, especially on minuscule subsets with unique biologic characteristics. However, our data are robust enough to exclude any major effect of valproic acid, especially in significant proportions of patients with glioblastoma. Furthermore, any beneficial effect would have to be weighed against the major toxicity associated with prolonged high-dose valproic acid treatment (eg, hematologic abnormalities, hair loss, weight gain) in a patient population already significantly affected by other treatments such as corticosteroids, irradiation, and alkylating agent chemotherapy. We appreciate the interest of our colleagues in further studying this topic, and we agree that further retrospective studies are unlikely to resolve the issue unless we arrive at the conclusion that we have definitively ruled out a major benefit of valproic acid in molecularly unselected newly diagnosed glioblastoma. In fact, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group has arrived at the latter conclusion and will not further pursue the idea of a randomized phase III trial of valproic acid in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Translocon-associated protein subunit SSR3 determines and predicts susceptibility to paclitaxel in breast cancer and glioblastoma.

Abstract: PURPOSE Paclitaxel (PTX) is one the most potent and commonly used chemotherapies for breast and pancreatic cancer. Several ongoing clinical trials are investigating means of enhancing delivery of PTX across the blood-brain barrier for glioblastomas (GBMs). Despite the widespread use of PTX for breast cancer, and the initiative to repurpose this drug for gliomas, there are no predictive biomarkers to inform which patients will likely benefit from this therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN To identify predictive biomarkers for susceptibility to PTX, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR knock-out (KO) screen using human glioma cells. The genes whose KO was most enriched in the CRISPR screen underwent further selection based on their correlation with survival in the breast cancer patient cohorts treated with PTX and not in patients treated with other chemotherapies, a finding that was validated on a second independent patient cohort using progression-free survival. RESULTS Combination of CRISPR screen results with outcomes from taxane-treated breast cancer patients led to the discovery of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein SSR3 as a putative predictive biomarker for PTX. SSR3 protein levels showed positive correlation with susceptibility to PTX in breast cancer cells, glioma cells and in multiple intracranial glioma xenografts models. Knockout of SSR3 turned the cells resistant to PTX while its overexpression sensitized the cells to PTX. Mechanistically, SSR3 confers susceptibility to PTX through regulation of phosphorylation of ER stress sensor IRE1α. CONCLUSION Our hypothesis generating study showed SSR3 as a putative biomarker for susceptibility to PTX, warranting its prospective clinical validation.

The changing world of drug development: an academic research organization’s perspective on the “Seven Wonders” of the future world of anticancer drug development

Abstract: Cancer poses a considerable economic burden to healthcare systems worldwide, so healthcare payers will only pay for "performance" in the future. It is likely that new "wonders" have emerged and as a scientific community we need to learn how we can make future cancer research more efficient. Biobanking and imaging platforms will allow full use of this wealth of data for defining and testing hypotheses before the launch of fewer, but ambitious, pivotal clinical studies targeting large therapeutic benefit. Clinical trials must be based on optimized trial designs with sound methodologies and high qualities. These multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies need to be in the new generation of patient treatment planning. In order to accelerate patient access to new treatments and techniques, better harmonized regulatory procedures and new forms of multi-stakeholder collaboration are needed in future drug development.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with operable stage IIIB disease. A phase II trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK)

Abstract: 18021 Background and Methods: Outcome of patients (pts) with locally advanced NSCLC treated with radio- or chemoradiotherapy is poor. This two-stage phase II trial (planned sample size 46) aimed at...

Management of Low-Grade Gliomas

Abstract: A better understanding of the natural history of World Health Organization (WHO) grade-II gliomas (ie the regular progression, the infiltration along white matter tracts and especially the risk of anaplastic transformation, which are function- or life-threatening), associated with reduced treatment risks, has modified the standard "no-treatment" approach in a resolutely therapeutic approach. From now on, the aim is to work towards the elaboration of real therapeutic strategies adapted to each patient, ie to determine the sequence and timing for each treatment (first or even second surgical excision, first or even second line of chemotherapy, radiotherapy) according to tumour progression (assessed using routine MRI examinations), according to the clinical and neuropsychological status as well as to the individual brain anatomic and functional organization (assessed with mapping techniques). The objective is to avoid malignant transformation as long as possible while preserving the quality of life, since this tumour mostly occurs in young patients having a family life and a regular social and professional activity.

Radiotherapy plus Concomitant and Adjuvant Temozolomide for Glioblastoma

Abstract: methods Patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed glioblastoma were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy alone (fractionated focal irradiation in daily fractions of 2 Gy given 5 days per week for 6 weeks, for a total of 60 Gy) or radiotherapy plus continuous daily temozolomide (75 mg per square meter of body-surface area per day, 7 days per week from the first to the last day of radiotherapy), followed by six cycles of adjuvant temozolomide (150 to 200 mg per square meter for 5 days during each 28-day cycle). The primary end point was overall survival. results A total of 573 patients from 85 centers underwent randomization. The median age was 56 years, and 84 percent of patients had undergone debulking surgery. At a median follow-up of 28 months, the median survival was 14.6 months with radiotherapy plus temozolomide and 12.1 months with radiotherapy alone. The unadjusted hazard ratio for death in the radiotherapy-plus-temozolomide group was 0.63 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.75; P<0.001 by the log-rank test). The two-year survival rate was 26.5 percent with radiotherapy plus temozolomide and 10.4 percent with radiotherapy alone. Concomitant treatment with radiotherapy plus temozolomide resulted in grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxic effects in 7 percent of patients.

CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2007-2011.

Abstract: The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), is the largest population-based registry focused exclusively on primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the United States (US) and represents the entire US population. This report contains the most up-to-date population-based data on primary brain tumors (malignant and non-malignant) and supersedes all previous CBTRUS reports in terms of completeness and accuracy. All rates (incidence and mortality) are age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population and presented per 100,000 population. The average annual age-adjusted incidence rate (AAAIR) of all malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 23.79 (Malignant AAAIR=7.08, non-Malignant AAAIR=16.71). This rate was higher in females compared to males (26.31 versus 21.09), Blacks compared to Whites (23.88 versus 23.83), and non-Hispanics compared to Hispanics (24.23 versus 21.48). The most commonly occurring malignant brain and other CNS tumor was glioblastoma (14.5% of all tumors), and the most common non-malignant tumor was meningioma (38.3% of all tumors). Glioblastoma was more common in males, and meningioma was more common in females. In children and adolescents (age 0-19 years), the incidence rate of all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 6.14. An estimated 83,830 new cases of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2020 (24,970 malignant and 58,860 non-malignant). There were 81,246 deaths attributed to malignant brain and other CNS tumors between 2013 and 2017. This represents an average annual mortality rate of 4.42. The 5-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a malignant brain and other CNS tumor was 23.5% and for a non-malignant brain and other CNS tumor was 82.4%.

Comprehensive genomic characterization defines human glioblastoma genes and core pathways

Abstract: Human cancer cells typically harbour multiple chromosomal aberrations, nucleotide substitutions and epigenetic modifications that drive malignant transformation. The Cancer Genome Atlas ( TCGA) pilot project aims to assess the value of large- scale multi- dimensional analysis of these molecular characteristics in human cancer and to provide the data rapidly to the research community. Here we report the interim integrative analysis of DNA copy number, gene expression and DNA methylation aberrations in 206 glioblastomas - the most common type of primary adult brain cancer - and nucleotide sequence aberrations in 91 of the 206 glioblastomas. This analysis provides new insights into the roles of ERBB2, NF1 and TP53, uncovers frequent mutations of the phosphatidylinositol- 3- OH kinase regulatory subunit gene PIK3R1, and provides a network view of the pathways altered in the development of glioblastoma. Furthermore, integration of mutation, DNA methylation and clinical treatment data reveals a link between MGMT promoter methylation and a hypermutator phenotype consequent to mismatch repair deficiency in treated glioblastomas, an observation with potential clinical implications. Together, these findings establish the feasibility and power of TCGA, demonstrating that it can rapidly expand knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer.

Effects of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone on survival in glioblastoma in a randomised phase III study: 5-year analysis of the EORTC-NCIC trial

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In 2004, a randomised phase III trial by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC) reported improved median and 2-year survival for patients with glioblastoma treated with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide and radiotherapy. We report the final results with a median follow-up of more than 5 years. METHODS: Adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma were randomly assigned to receive either standard radiotherapy or identical radiotherapy with concomitant temozolomide followed by up to six cycles of adjuvant temozolomide. The methylation status of the methyl-guanine methyl transferase gene, MGMT, was determined retrospectively from the tumour tissue of 206 patients. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00006353. FINDINGS: Between Aug 17, 2000, and March 22, 2002, 573 patients were assigned to treatment. 278 (97%) of 286 patients in the radiotherapy alone group and 254 (89%) of 287 in the combined-treatment group died during 5 years of follow-up. Overall survival was 27.2% (95% CI 22.2-32.5) at 2 years, 16.0% (12.0-20.6) at 3 years, 12.1% (8.5-16.4) at 4 years, and 9.8% (6.4-14.0) at 5 years with temozolomide, versus 10.9% (7.6-14.8), 4.4% (2.4-7.2), 3.0% (1.4-5.7), and 1.9% (0.6-4.4) with radiotherapy alone (hazard ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7; p<0.0001). A benefit of combined therapy was recorded in all clinical prognostic subgroups, including patients aged 60-70 years. Methylation of the MGMT promoter was the strongest predictor for outcome and benefit from temozolomide chemotherapy. INTERPRETATION: Benefits of adjuvant temozolomide with radiotherapy lasted throughout 5 years of follow-up. A few patients in favourable prognostic categories survive longer than 5 years. MGMT methylation status identifies patients most likely to benefit from the addition of temozolomide. FUNDING: EORTC, NCIC, Nelia and Amadeo Barletta Foundation, Schering-Plough.

MGMT Gene Silencing and Benefit from Temozolomide in Glioblastoma

Abstract: background Epigenetic silencing of the MGMT (O 6 -methylguanine–DNA methyltransferase) DNArepair gene by promoter methylation compromises DNA repair and has been associated with longer survival in patients with glioblastoma who receive alkylating agents. methods We tested the relationship between MGMT silencing in the tumor and the survival of patients who were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing radiotherapy alone with radiotherapy combined with concomitant and adjuvant treatment with temozolomide. The methylation status of the MGMT promoter was determined by methylation-specific polymerase-chain-reaction analysis. results The MGMT promoter was methylated in 45 percent of 206 assessable cases. Irrespective of treatment, MGMT promoter methylation was an independent favorable prognostic factor (P<0.001 by the log-rank test; hazard ratio, 0.45; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.32 to 0.61). Among patients whose tumor contained a methylated MGMT promoter, a survival benefit was observed in patients treated with temozolomide and radiotherapy; their median survival was 21.7 months (95 percent confidence interval, 17.4 to 30.4), as compared with 15.3 months (95 percent confidence interval, 13.0 to 20.9) among those who were assigned to only radiotherapy (P=0.007 by the log-rank test). In the absence of methylation of the MGMT promoter, there was a smaller and statistically insignificant difference in survival between the treatment groups. conclusions Patients with glioblastoma containing a methylated MGMT promoter benefited from temozolomide, whereas those who did not have a methylated MGMT promoter did not have such a benefit.