Phase I study of epigenetic priming with azacitidine prior to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with resectable gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Evidence of tumor hypomethylation as an indicator of major histopathologic response Journal Article


Authors: Schneider, B. J.; Shah, M. A.; Klute, K.; Ocean, A.; Popa, E.; Altorki, N.; Lieberman, M.; Schreiner, A.; Yantiss, R.; Christos, P. J.; Palmer, R.; You, D.; Viale, A.; Kermani, P.; Scandura, J. M.
Article Title: Phase I study of epigenetic priming with azacitidine prior to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with resectable gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Evidence of tumor hypomethylation as an indicator of major histopathologic response
Abstract: Purpose: Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) is an acquired abnormality observed in cancer and is prototypically linked to DNA methylation. We postulated that pretreatment (priming) with 5-azacitidine would increase the efficacy of chemotherapy by reactivating TSGs. This study was conducted to identify a tolerable dose of 5-azacitidine prior to EOX (epirubicin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal/gastric adenocarcinoma (EGC). Experimental Design: Eligible patients had untreated, locally advanced, resectable EGC, ECOG 0-2, and adequate organ function. 5-Azacitidine (V, 75 mg/m2) was given subcutaneously for 3 (dose level, DL 1) or 5 (DL 2) days prior to each 21-day cycle of EOX (E, 50 mg/m2; O, 130 mg/m2; X, 625 mg/m2 twice daily for 21 days). Standard 3+3 methodology guided V dose escalation. DNAmethylation at control and biomarker regions was measured by digital droplet, bisulfite qPCR in tumor samples collected at baseline and at resection. Results: All subjects underwent complete resection of residual tumor (R0). Three of the 12 patients (25%) achieved a surgical complete response and 5 had partial responses. The overall response rate was 67%. The most common toxicities were gastrointestinal and hematologic. Hypomethylation of biomarker genes was observed at all dose levels and trended with therapeutic response. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant VEOX was well-tolerated with significant clinical and epigenetic responses, with preliminary evidence that priming with V prior to chemotherapy may augment chemotherapy efficacy. The recommended phase II trial schedule is 5-azacitidine 75 mg/m2 for 5 days followed by EOX chemotherapy every 21 days. © 2016 American Association for Cancer Research.
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 23
Issue: 11
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2017-06-01
Start Page: 2673
End Page: 2680
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1896
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5425331
PUBMED: 27836862
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 July 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Agnes Viale
    245 Viale
  2. Daoqi You
    47 You