A phase II study of toripalimab combined with gemcitabine-cisplatin as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Abstract

e16602 Background: Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care in MIBC with improved pathologic response (PaR) and overall survival (OS) compared to radical cystectomy (RC) alone. The efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in combination with chemotherapy as a new neoadjuvant treatment option for MIBC still needs further confirmation. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of toripalimab (an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody) combined with gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with MIBC. Methods: Eligible pts with MIBC (cT2-T4a, N≤1, M0) who were candidates for RC were enrolled. Toripalimab (240mg, d1) combined with GC (gemcitabine 1000mg/m2 d1,d8 plus cisplatin 35mg/m2 d1,d2) every 21 days, up to 4 cycles. RC was performed within 6 weeks after the last dose treatment. The primary endpoint was PaR (≤ pT1,N0). Secondary endpoints were PFS at 2 years and safety. Results: Between Apr 2021 and Jun 2022, 16 pts (4 pts cT2, 11 pts cT3, 1 pts cT4) were enrolled and received 4 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy, with median age of 63.5 and 75% male. 14 of the 16 pts underwent RC and two declined RC. Among 14 evaluable pts, PaR ≤pT1N0 was achieved in 12 pts (85.71%, 4 were pT0, 8 were pT1/a/is). Survival data are not yet mature. The most common adverse events (AEs) of any grade were anemia (14/16; 87.5%) and nausea/vomiting (11/16; 68.75%). One had Grade≥3 AEs (hemorrhagic shock) while on study that was unrelated to GC or toripalimab. Five pts experienced grade 1-2 immune related AEs, including thyroiditis (3/16, 18.75%) and rash (2/16,12.5%). Conclusions: Neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with GC showed promising safety and efficacy in MIBC with significant pathologic downstaging rates. Clinical trial information: NCT04861584 .