Tumor response and growth rate of nivolumab treatment in advanced gastric cancer: Real-world data from a large observational/translational study, JACCRO GC-08 (deliver trial).

Abstract

4527 Background: Nivolumab (Nivo) demonstrated survival benefit in previously treated gastric cancer (GC) patients (pts), with a response rate (RR) of 11% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 40% (Kang YK, et al. Lancet 2017). There are few real-world data of Nivo and its predictive markers are needed in GC. It has been demonstrated that some tumors grow rapidly after Nivo treatment, but the proportion is uncertain. Methods: DELIVER trial was a prospective, multicenter, observational/translational study which assessed pts with advanced GC treated with Nivo alone and ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0-2 (UMIN000030850). The aims were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nivo in real world, and to discover novel host-related immune-biomarkers (gut microbiome, genetic polymorphism, gene expression, and metabolome) using fecal and blood samples which were collected before and after Nivo treatment. The RR, DCR, progression-free survival, overall survival, and tumor growth rate (TGR) were estimated as the efficacy. The response was evaluated by first imaging based on RECIST version 1.1. The TGR was calculated as a percentage increase in tumor volume during 1 month (Champiat et al. Clin Cancer Res 2017). Results: A total of 501 pts was enrolled in this study from Mar 2018 to Aug 2019, and 487 pts were evaluable for analysis (median age 70-y, 71% male, ECOG PS0/1/2 42%/44%/14%, tub/por/sig 45%/41%/5%, 21% HER2-pos, 42% pts with ascites). The DCR was 39.2% (95%CI 34.9-43.7) in evaluable pts. In 282 pts with measurable lesions, the RR was 6.7% (95%CI 4.1-10.3) and DCR was 36.5%. Sub-analysis by patient background indicated that DCR was 41% for PS0, 42% for PS1, and 24% for PS2. In addition, the DCR was lower in pts with ascites compared to those without ascites (28.6% vs. 47.0%, p= 0.005). The TGR decreased after introduction of Nivo in 124 (56.6%) of 219 evaluable pts for TGR; however, 20.5% pts were identified as experiencing hyper-progressive disease (HPD) which was defined as a ≥2-fold increase of the TGR before and after Nivo. When defining HPD as a ≥2-fold increase of tumor growth kinetics ratio and 50% increase of tumor burden, 9.6% pts experienced it. Conclusions: The real-word data of the large observational trial showed a comparable DCR to that of clinical trial in advanced GC treated with Nivo. This trial revealed the tumor behavior and some pts who experienced rapid tumor growth after Nivo treatment in clinical practice; biomarkers for HPD and the definition should be established. Clinical trial information: UMIN000030850 .