Phase II neoadjuvant (N-) gemcitabine (G) and pembrolizumab (P) for locally advanced urothelial cancer (laUC): Interim results from the cisplatin (C)-ineligible cohort of GU14-188.

Abstract

5019 Background: Patients (pts) with laUC who are C-ineligible have inferior survival compared to counterparts who receive C based N-therapy and have a pathologic response at radical cystectomy (RC). Cohort 2 (C2) of the GU14-188 trial is designed to assess the tolerability and efficacy of N- G and P in laUC pts who are C-ineligible. Methods: Eligible pts for C2 were surgical candidates and C-ineligible with cT2-4aN0M0 bladder UC or mixed histology. Enrollment followed a Simon 2-stage design for H0 of interval futility which was rejected at stage 1, and fully enrolled. Pts were treated with N- G (1000mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28 day cycle (cy) for a total of 3 cy, and overlapped with P 200mg every 3wks starting on cy 1 day 8 x 5 doses. Minimum criteria for evaluation of safety: 1 dose of P, and for efficacy: 2 doses P and RC. The primary endpoint of pathologic muscle invasive response rate (PaIR, ≤pT1N0) was assessed at RC and designed for 86% power, 4% significance to detect PaIR difference from 18 to 40%. Molecular subtyping is planned. Results: 37 pts were enrolled to C2 with a median (mdn) age of 72, 70% male, 55% > cT2. C-ineligibility was due to renal function (49%), hearing (30%), neuropathy (12%). Mdn per-pt doses given (intended) for P:5(5) and G:9(9). The PaIR was 51.6% (95%CI 0.35, 0.68), P0 (ypT0N0) rate of 45.2%, and neither correlated with baseline PD-L1 score. Downstage to PaIR occurred in 57% of pts with cT2, and 47% of > cT2. Mdn time to RC from last dose was 5.6wks. Six were not included in the primary analysis: 3 (8.1%) did not have RC due to progression (RFS censored), 2 did not receive required protocol therapy, and 1 withdrew consent. At mdn follow up of 10.8mo (4-24), the estimated 12mo RFS, OS, and DSS is 74.9%, 93.8%, and 100%, respectively. Treatment related AE included grade (gr) 3/4 neutropenia (24%), anemia (13%), and platelets (5%). There were no gr 4 non-heme AE, and of 14 (36%) pts with gr 3, 12 did not preclude RC. Of these, there were 4 gr 3 investigator assessed immune related adverse events (IAirAE) of pneumonitis (5%), colitis (3%), and AST elevation (3%). Though IAirAE improved, protocol therapy was discontinued in 3 pts: 2 did not have RC due to progression. Conclusion: N- G with P in C-ineligible pts with laUC is feasible with manageable toxicity, and has a pathologic downstage rate comparable to standard of care in the C-eligible population. G and P warrants further study with component contribution as a C- free N- option in laUC. Clinical trial information: NCT02365766 .