Failure Of First-line Platinum-based Chemotherapy Research Articles

An open label, single arm phase II, multicenter trial of durvalumab and BVAC-C, in patients with HPV 16- or 18-positive cervical cancer and failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (DURBAC).

An open label, single arm phase II, multicenter trial of durvalumab and BVAC-C, in patients with HPV 16- or 18-positive cervical cancer and failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (DURBAC).

Efficacy and safety of nivolumab for patients with pre-treated type B3 thymoma and thymic carcinoma: results from the EORTC-ETOP NIVOTHYM phase II trial

Thymic malignancies are rare intrathoracic tumors, which may be aggressive and difficult to treat. They represent a therapeutic challenge in the advanced/metastatic setting, with limited treatment options after the failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. They are frequently associated with autoimmune disorders that also impact oncological management. NIVOTHYM is an international, multicenter, phase II, two-cohort, single-arm trial evaluating the activity and safety of nivolumab [240 mg intravenously (i.v.) q2 weeks] alone or with ipilimumab (1 mg /kg i.v. q6 weeks) in patients with advanced/relapsed type B3 thymoma or thymic carcinoma, after exposure to platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival rate at 6 months (PFSR-6) based on RECIST 1.1 as per independent radiological review. From April 2018 to February 2020, 55 patients were enrolled in 15 centers from 5 countries. Ten patients (18%) had type B3 thymoma and 43 (78%) had thymic carcinoma. The majority were male (64%), and the median age was 58 years. Among the 49 eligible patients who started treatment, PFSR-6 by central review was 35% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22% to 50%]. The overall response rate and disease control rate were 12% (95% CI 5% to 25%) and 63% (95% CI 48% to 77%), respectively. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, median progression-free survival and overall survival by local assessment were 6.0 (95% CI 3.1-10.4) months and 21.3 (95% CI 11.6-not estimable) months, respectively. In the safety population of 54 patients, adverse events (AEs) of grade 1/2 were observed in 22 (41%) patients and grade 3/4 in 31 (57%) patients. Treatment-related AEs of grade 4 included one case of neutropenia, one case of immune-mediated transaminitis, and two cases of myocarditis. Nivolumab monotherapy demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and objective activity, although it has been insufficient to meet its primary objective. The second cohort of NIVOTHYM is currently ongoing to assess the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Second-line lurbinectedin as a new treatment option for small-cell lung cancer: Preliminary results in real-clinical practice.

IntroductionFew strategies exist for treatment of patients with small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) extended‐stage after failure of first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy. Lurbinectedin is a novel RNA‐polymerase‐II inhibitor investigated as a second‐line therapy for SCLC. However, its efficacy and safety profile in real clinical practice remain to be determined.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy and safety of lurbinectedin in real‐life among patients with SCLC previously treated with first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients who received at least one dose of lurbinectedin (3.2 mg/m2) between March 2020 and November 2021, in the pulmonary department of Bordeaux University Hospital. Endpoints were time to treatment discontinuation, progression‐free survival, overall survival, and safety profile.ResultsThirteen patients were included. The median age was 60 years (range: 42–77), seven (54%) were females, nine (69%) having a performance status of 0–1. Lurbinectedin was given as second‐line treatment before platinum rechallenge in four (31%) patients. After a mean follow‐up of 4.1 months, the objective response rate (ORR) was 17%. The median time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) was 2.3 months (interquartile range [IQR], 1.2–3.6). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were, respectively, 1.9 (IQR, 0.1.8) and 4.1 (IQR, 2.0–3.5) months. No significant difference regarding TTD, PFS or OS was found in the two groups according to treatment history or according to chemotherapy‐free intervall (CMI) 〈1 or 〉1 month. The most common adverse events (AEs) were asthenia, nausea, and anemia in nine (70%) patients. Grade 3 AEs were reported, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, anorexia, and neutropenia.ConclusionsLurbinectedin in real clinical practice could have had a lower efficacy than in phase II trial, but a better hematological and bioclinical tolerance than previously reported. Early relapse after platinum‐based chemotherapy seems to have a lower response to lurbinectedin.

From New Molecular Insights to New Treatment Options in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer remains the most common gynecological cancer in Europe and the US, with excellent survival rates in patients with early-stage disease.^1^ However, the prognosis of advanced/metastatic endometrial cancer is dismal. There is a considerable need to refine treatment options in the adjuvant and metastatic settings, especially after the failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have the potential to change the systemic treatment landscape of endometrial cancer.

LBA41 Nivolumab (nivo) ± ipilimumab (ipi) in pre-treated patients with advanced, refractory pulmonary or gastroenteropancreatic poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NECs) (GCO-001 NIPINEC)

Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NECs) are a distinct family of poorly differentiated morphology, sharing molecular, clinical and outcome characteristics. No standard-of-care exists after the failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) regimens. Nivo±ipi has been reported to provide survival benefit versus standard CT in metastatic solid cancers. GCO-001 NIPINEC is a multicenter, non-comparative, randomized (1:1) phase 2 trial with a two-step design (early stopping for futility after 50% of accrual). Main inclusion criteria were histologically proven NEC (large- and small-cell for gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NECs, and large-cell for lung NECs), in 2nd or 3rd line refractory to platinum-based CT, and PS 0-2. Patients received nivo 3 mg/kg q2w ± ipi 1 mg/kg q6w, for 2 years or until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) at 8 weeks assessed by investigators (power of 90%, alpha risk at 5% two-sided). Other endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. NCT number: NCT03591731. From Dec 2018 to Mar 2021, 185 patients (93 GEP and 92 lung) were enrolled in 50 centers. Median age was 64.4 years (range 26.4–87.1), 71% males, 70% smokers, 91% with ECOG PS 0 or 1, 24% with asymptomatic brain metastases. 170 (92%) patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint. ORR at 8 weeks was 7.2% (95%CI [2.7-15.1]) with nivo and 14.9% (95%CI [8.2-24.2]) with nivo+ipi. Median PFS was 1.8 months (95%CI [1.7-2.0]) with nivo and 1.9 months (95%CI [1.6-2.1]) with nivo+ipi. Median OS was 7.2 months (95%CI [3.7-14.1]) with nivo and 5.8 months (95%CI [3.3-7.6]) with nivo+ipi. 3 patients (3.5%) and 7 patients (8.9%) experienced treatment discontinuation because of toxicity with nivo and nivo+ipi respectively. 2 treatment-related deaths were observed with nivo (meningoencephalitis and pneumonitis). Most frequent grade ≥ 3 AEs were asthenia (7.3%), anaemia (6.3%) and alkaline phosphatase increased (5.8%). Nivo+Ipi only reached the primary endpoint in 2nd/3rd line NECs pts with acceptable toxicity.

842TiP - Nal-iri/lv5-fu versus paclitaxel as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESIRI-PRODIGE 62): A FFCD multicenter, randomized, phase II study

BackgroundHalf of patients newly diagnosed with esophagus squamous cell cancer (ESCC) has a metastatic ESCC (mESCC) and half of patients with initial loco-regional disease presents disease recurrence after surgery and/or chemoradiation. Although not validated by a phase III trial, first-line palliative chemotherapy combines fluoropyrimidine with platinum salt. Patients with disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy and good performance status may benefit from a second-line chemotherapy. Based on phase I/II trials or retrospective studies, the most commonly used regimens in second-line setting of mESCC are paclitaxel monotherapy or irinotecan monotherapy or combined with 5FU (FOLFIRI). Up to now, there is no randomized trial available. Trial designOESIRI is a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase II trial designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of nanoliposomal irinotecan (NalIRI) plus 5FU versus paclitaxel as second-line therapy in mESCC. Main inclusion criteria are histologically proven mESCC after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and WHO performance status ≤ 2. Patients initially treated by surgery and chemotherapy or definitive chemoradiation are eligible if relapse occurred less than 6 months after the end of the treatment. In the experimental arm, patients will receive, every 14 days, intravenous (IV) infusion of NalIRI (80mg/m2) followed by 5FU (2400mg/m2 over 46h). In the control arm, patients will receive at days 1, 8 and 14 of a 28 days-cycle, an IV infusion of paclitaxel (80mg/m2). The primary objective is to evaluate the percentage of patients alive 9 months after randomisation. The clinical hypotheses are to extent the 9-months survival rate from 40% to 60%. With a one-sided type one error α of 5%, a power of 85%, a 5% rate of patients lost to follow-up, 53 patients per arm (n=106) will be randomized. Secondary endpoints are progression-free survival, overall survival, response rate, safety and quality of life. Circulating tumor DNA will be monitored to assess its predictive value of response to treatment. Inclusions started in January 2019 and theoretical end of recruitment is January 2022. Legal entity responsible for the studyFédération Française de Cancérologie Digestive. FundingServier. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

An observational single-center study of nivolumab in Indian patients with recurrent advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Limited treatment options are available for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The treatment of recurrent advanced NSCLC progressed with the arrival of nivolumab and other immunotherapeutic agents. Our single-center prospective study aimed to present the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab in second-line setting after first-line platinum doublet in Indian patients with advanced NSCLC. Twenty-nine adult patients with stage IV NSCLC treated with nivolumab after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur, India, between October 2016 and January 2018, were included in the study. Overall survival (OS), hematological, and nonhematological toxicities were evaluated. A total of 29 patients (mean age of 59.6 years at enrollment) were evaluated. Histological evaluation revealed adenocarcinoma (44.8%) and squamous (55.2%) type of cancer. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score was II in 7 patients (24.1%) and I in 22 (75.9%) patients. Patients received an average of four cycles of nivolumab. The median survival duration was 101 days, and OS rate in the study was 51.7%. Six patients (20.7%) had stable disease response, five patients (17.2%) had partial response, and three patients (10.3%) were lost to follow-up. Asthenia and cough were the most common nonhematological toxicities. Only three patients developed hematological toxicities (anemia and thrombocytopenia). Data from our study suggest nivolumab is well-tolerated and effective in Indian patients with recurrent advanced NSCLC after failure of the multiple first lines of platinum-based combination chemotherapy.

Nivolumab and its use in the second-line treatment of metastatic urothelial cancer.

Nivolumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody blocking PD-1 with demonstrated effectiveness against metastatic urothelial carcinoma. In this review, we describe the pharmacological properties of nivolumab and the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma with this checkpoint inhibitor after the failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Cancer immunotherapy by checkpoint inhibition offers potential to prolong patient survival with well manageable toxicity although serious immune-related adverse events may occur. The overall response rate to nivolumab after first-line chemotherapy is about 20%. Patients unfit for cisplatin may benefit from first-line cancer immunotherapy. It remains unclear which patient will respond and PD-1/PD-L1 expression alone is not a sufficiently reliable predictive biomarker.

Response Rate to Chemotherapy After Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are active in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC). They have joined chemotherapy (CT) as a standard of care. Here, we investigate the activity of CT after progression on ICIs. Two cohorts of sequential patients with MUC were described (n=28). Cohort A received first-line ICIs followed by CT after progression. Cohort B received CT after failure of first-line platinum-based CT followed by ICIs. Response rate (RR) to CT was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1) by a designated radiologist. Best RR for cohort A was 64%. Two patients experienced clinical progression and died before the first radiographic assessment. RR for cohort B was 21%, which was significantly lower than that for cohort A. Progression of disease occurred in 43% of cohort B patients by the end of CT. These data suggest a lack of cross resistance between CT and ICIs in MUC. Therefore, the sequencing of these drugs is likely to be important to maximise outcomes. This is particularly true after first-line ICIs as subsequent CT has significant activity. Patient summaryIn this report, we studied the effect of chemotherapy in metastatic bladder cancer, which relapsed after immune checkpoint inhibitors. We found that the activity of chemotherapy was maintained despite previous exposure to immune therapy. This underlines the importance of sequencing these agents to maximise outcomes.

Amrubicin Monotherapy for Patients with Platinum-Pretreated Non-Gastrointestinal Non-Pancreatic Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of amrubicin therapy for patients with non-gastrointestinal (GI) non-pancreatic extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC). Methods: The medical records of patients from the 2 participating institutions were retrospectively reviewed. The eligibility criteria were: patients with non-GI non-pancreatic EP-NEC who received amrubicin monotherapy after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients in whom the platinum-free interval (interval between the last day of platinum administration and the first subsequent documentation of disease progression) was 90 days or longer were classified into the platinum-sensitive group. Results: The study was conducted in a total of 13 patients identified as eligible. The response rate was 45.4% (5/11). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6.0 and 10.6 months, respectively. A platinum-free interval of ≥90 days was identified as a significant predictor of a longer progression-free survival time. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 61.5% (8/13) of the patients. One patient died of treatment-related febrile neutropenia. Conclusions: Amrubicin monotherapy as second-line chemotherapy after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy showed good efficacy in patients with non-GI non-pancreatic EP-NEC. Neutropenia was encountered as the most serious adverse event.

Phase III, randomized, open-label study of durvalumab (MEDI4736) monotherapy, or durvalumab + tremelimumab, versus standard of care (SoC), in recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): eagle

Meeting abstracts Patients with R/M SCCHN have a poor prognosis, and current therapies used after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy provide transient, limited benefit. SCCHN tumors are highly immunosuppressive and evade immune detection by exploiting inhibitory immune checkpoints

A Phase 2, multicenter, single-arm, global study of MEDI4736 monotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): HAWK (NCT02207530).

TPS6086 Background: Patients (pts) with R/M SCCHN have a poor prognosis, with current systemic therapy options after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy yielding objective response ra...

Efficacy of salvage chemotherapy in the advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who failed the treatment of chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) such as gefitinib and erlotinib are used as standard 2(nd)/3(rd) line therapy in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal treatment for patients who experienced disease progression after chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of a salvage chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients who failed the previous treatment of platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI. Clinicopathological data of 55 cases of advanced NSCLC patients who failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and subsequent treatment with TKI were collected and analyzed. The patients were of PS = 0-2, and with normal vital organ function. Patients received salvage chemotherapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or the patient refused to continue receiving treatment. A chart review assessed the key outcomes including the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Fifty-five patients were enrolled in this study from march 2007 to october 2009. The median age of patients was 55 years (range: 34 - 72), 60.0% were males, PS 0-1 patients were 65.5%, stage IV patients were 100%; 34.5% had a TKI treatment duration ≥ 6 months. Twenty-four patients received pemetrexed as salvage chemotherapy, 21 received docetaxal and 10 had other chemotherapy. All patients were evaluable for efficacy. Among them, 7 (12.7%) patients achieved PR, 21 (38.2%) patients SD, and 27 (49.1%) patients PD, with ORR of 12.7% and DCR of 50.9%. The median follow-up duration was 5.5 months, and the median PFS was 2.0 months. The ORR and PFS were not significantly related with gender, PS and chemotherapy regimens (all P > 0.05), but patients with EGFR-TKI treatment ≥ 6 months achieved a significantly better ORR and DCR than those < 6 months (ORR: 21.1% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.012; DCR: 73.3% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.017), mPFS was significant longer in the patients received ≥ 6 months of EGFR-TKI (4.5 vs. 2.0 months, P = 0.008). The toxicity was acceptable and there were no treatment-related deaths. Advanced NSCLC patients failed with the previous treatment of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI may benefit from salvage chemotherapy, especially in patients who received ≥ 6 months of EGFR-TKI. The toxicity of the salvage chemotherapy is acceptable.

Retrospective Practice Review of Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Second-Line Erlotinib

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIS) and chemotherapy have both demonstrated efficacy in recurrent metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Although the 3 available therapeutic agents-docetaxel, erlotinib, and pemetrexed-have significantly changed the treatment landscape for recurrent NSCLC, the optimal selection of second- and third-line therapy has not been established. This practice review examines the outcomes in clinical practice of using second-line erlotinib followed by third-line chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent metastatic NSCLC. We conducted a retrospective review of nsclc patient charts at three Canadian institutions. Patients with recurrent nsclc who had received second-line erlotinib therapy followed by third-line chemotherapy were selected by census. A chart review assessed key outcomes that included time to progression (TTP), response, and change in performance status. Outcomes for specific patient subgroups were also examined. We identified 35 patients for this retrospective practice review. First-line platinum-doublet therapy demonstrated a mean TTP of 6.6 months and a 46% overall response rate (15 partial responses and 1 complete response). Second-line treatment with erlotinib produced the highest mean TTP of all lines of therapy (9.2 months) and an overall response rate of 40% (all being partial responses). In the third-line setting, in which most patients received docetaxel, the mean ttp was 4.3 months and the overall response rate was 18% (all being partial responses). Subgroup analysis showed that all patient subgroups demonstrated benefit from second-line erlotinib treatment; improved benefit was observed in patients who developed rash, in female patients, in never smokers, in Asian patients, in patients with positive EGFR status, and in patients with adenocarcinoma histology. For patients with advanced nsclc who progressed following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, the data demonstrate that second-line EGFR-TKI treatment is efficacious and well-tolerated and that it does not appear to diminish the benefit of third-line chemotherapy.

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study of Vandetanib Plus Docetaxel in Previously Treated Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Vandetanib is a once-daily oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase activity. The activity of vandetanib plus docetaxel was assessed in patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This two-part study comprised an open-label run-in phase and a double-blind randomized phase. Eligible patients had locally advanced or metastatic (stage IIIB/IV) NSCLC after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary objective of the randomized phase was to prolong progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving vandetanib (100 or 300 mg/d) plus docetaxel (75 mg/m2 intravenous infusion every 21 days) versus placebo plus docetaxel. The study was designed to have more than 75% power to detect 50% prolongation at a one-sided significance level of P < .20. Secondary objectives included objective response rate, overall survival, safety and tolerability. In the randomized phase (n = 127), median PFS was 18.7 weeks for vandetanib 100 mg plus docetaxel (n = 42; hazard ratio v docetaxel = 0.64; one-sided P = .037); 17.0 weeks for vandetanib 300 mg plus docetaxel (n = 44; hazard ratio v docetaxel = 0.83; one-sided P = .231); and 12 weeks for docetaxel (n = 41). There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival among the three treatment arms. Common adverse events included diarrhea, rash, and asymptomatic prolongation of corrected QT (QTC) interval. The primary objective was achieved, with vandetanib 100 mg plus docetaxel demonstrating a significant prolongation of PFS compared with docetaxel in relation to the prespecified significance level. On the basis of these encouraging data, phase III evaluation of vandetanib 100 mg plus docetaxel in second-line NSCLC has been initiated.