Outcome of adrenocortical carcinoma patients included in early phase clinical trials: Results from the French network ENDOCAN-COMETE.

BACKGROUND

At metastatic stage, treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) relies in first line on mitotane therapy, combination of mitotane with locoregional therapies or cisplatin-based chemotherapy according to initial presentation. In second line, ESMO-EURACAN recommendations favour enrolment of patients in clinical trials investigating experimental therapies. However, the benefit of this approach remains unknown.

METHODS

The aim of our retrospective study was to analyse the inclusion and outcomes of all patients of the French cohort ENDOCAN-COMETE included in early clinical trials between 2009 and 2019.

RESULTS

Of the 141 patients for whom a local or national multidisciplinary tumour board recommended, as first choice, to look for clinical trial, 27 patients (19%) were enroled in 30 early clinical trials. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.02 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI]; 2.3-4.6) and median overall survival (OS) was 10.2 months (95% CI; 7.13-16.3) while the best response, evaluable in 28 of 30 trial participants according to RECIST 1.1 criteria, was partial response for 3 patients (11%) stable disease for 14 patients (50%) and progressive disease for 11 patients (39%), resulting in a disease control rate of 61%. Median growth modulation index (GMI) in our cohort was 1.32, with a significantly prolonged PFS in 52% of the patients compared to the previous line. The Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) prognostic score was not associated with OS in this cohort.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that patients with metastatic ACC benefit from inclusion in early clinical trials in second line. As recommended, if a clinical trial is available, it should be the first choice for suitable patients.

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