Flat Dose Research Articles

PRIMUS-002: A multicentre, open-label, phase II study examining FOLFOX and nab-paclitaxel (FA) and nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine (AG) as neoadjuvant therapy for (borderline) resectable pancreatic cancer (PC), focusing on biomarker and liquid biopsy development.

TPS4166 Background: There is increasing evidence suggesting benefit from a neoadjuvant approach to PC. However, the optimal regimen is unclear and will likely require a precision medicine approach, where patient and tumor attributes define therapy. Platinum-containing regimens have shown survival benefit for PC, with occasional exceptional responders, but biomarkers (BM) of response are not well defined and treatment decisions are often based on patient performance status (PS) and co-morbidity. Tumors with defects in BRCA1/2and other Fanconi Anemia genes show defective DNA damage response (DDR), conferring potential selective sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents (e.g. platinum) and newer targeted agents. We have shown that DDR deficiency (DDRd) is present in up to 20% of PC. This study aims to exploit DDRd as a therapeutic vulnerability, with integrated analysis to define candidate BM for FA and AG response. Methods: PRIMUS-002 will enroll patients registered on the Precision-Panc Master Protocol who are molecularly profiled using the Precision-Panc Clinical Cancer Genome including a novel DDRd assay, and the transcriptome with longitudinal sampling (pre-, during, and post-treatment). Patients receive either FA ( nab-paclitaxel 150mg/m2IV,oxaliplatin 85mg/m2, folinic acid 350mg flat dose, fluorouracil infusion 2400mg/m2continuous IV infusion), orAG ( nab-paclitaxel 125mg/m2, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2) for 3 months,based on patient age and PS.Following initial safety analysis, chemoradiation may be introduced. The primary endpoint is disease progression (DP) during neoadjuvant therapy. The study is designed to detect a 20% difference in DP between the BM+ve (10%) and BM –ve (30%) in patients treated with FA (90% power, 5% 1-sided level of statistical significance)., Exploratory translational endpoints include surrogate therapeutic response assessment using CA19.9, PET-CT SUV, DWI-MRI and ctDNA. Current Enrolment: 2 patients enrolled to date: 1 to receive FA and 1 to AG treatment. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN34129115.

First-line pembrolizumab (P), trastuzumab (T), capecitabine (C) and oxaliplatin (O) in HER2-positive metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma.

4011 Background: Trastuzumab stimulates HER2-specific T cell responses and increases tumor PD-L1 expression, and anti-PD-1 antibody can help enhance T cell-specific immunity of trastuzumab. We conducted a phase II trial of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy/trastuzumab. Methods: Patients (pts) with previously untreated HER2 IHC 3+ or FISH+ tumors irrespective of PD-L1 status received intravenous P 200 mg flat dose, T 6 mg/kg (after 8 mg/kg load), O 130 mg/m2 every 3 weeks and oral C 850 mg/m2 2 weeks on/1 week off. 22 pts received 1 cycle of induction P/T prior to initiation of chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was 6-months PFS; with target accrual of 37 pts. Secondary endpoints included safety, OS, ORR, and biomarker analysis. Results: Accrual completed and 100% of the 32 evaluable pts had tumor regression (ranging from -20% to -100%). The RECIST 1.1 ORR was 87% (25 PR, 3 CRs), and 12 (52%) of pts that received induction P/T x 1 cycle showed reduction in target lesions. Median PFS was 11.3 months (mo), with 67% 6 mo PFS. Median follow up was only 6.6 mo. In pts with available material, 14/36 (40%) had PD-L1 CPS >1 and median TMB was 4.4 mut/Mb (0-10.6). There was no correlation between PD-L1 status and PFS or OS. ERBB2 amplification was evident by tissue-NGS in 17/29 (61%) and ctDNA-NGS in 17/30 (58%) pre-treatment, while the remaining pts were ERBB2- by NGS likely due to tumor heterogeneity or low tumor content. CtDNA maxVAF decreased in 16/24 tested pts after 1 cycle of induction T/P alone. irAEs included interstitial nephritis Gr4 (3%), transaminitis Gr3 (11%), Gr4 (3%), colitis Gr3 (3%). Conclusions: Most pts (51%) remain on therapy, and so the primary endpoint should be reached by 6/19. Updated survival, correlative studies and will be presented. These promising preliminary safety and efficacy results led to initiation of a definitive phase III Keynote 811 trial. Clinical trial information: NCT02954536.

BIOLUMA: A phase II trial of nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab to evaluate efficacy and safety in lung cancer and to evaluate biomarkers predictive for response—Preliminary results from the SCLC cohort.

8563 Background: Patient selection, dosing regimens and resistance mechanisms for immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy remain unmet medical needs in lung cancer. We present interim data from the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cohort of the ongoing BIOLUMA trial which evaluates efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab in lung cancer with a broad translational program to identify potential biomarkers predictive of response and/or resistance including whole exome sequencing (WES) of serial biopsies, functional analysis of peripheral T-cells and gut microbiome analyses. Methods: BIOLUMA is an investigator initiated, multicentre non-randomised phase II trial in 2nd line patients with SCLC. The initial all-comer SCLC cohort was recently amended for inclusion of patients with high tumor mutation burden (TMB) only. Patients are pre-screened for TMB by WES at the time of first diagnosis. After progression on platinum-based therapy, 4 cycles of nivolumab 1 mg/kg q3w in combination with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg q3w and subsequent nivolumab 240 mg flat dose as monotherapy are given. Primary endpoint is overall response rate (ORR) of the upfront combination therapy. Analysis of sequential tumor biopsies, blood and gut microbiome is performed at different timepoints. Results: The SCLC cohort was amended to include TMB high patients only, after two treatment-related deaths had occurred and emerging data indicated treatment benefit depends on high TMB status for the combination therapy. Both patients with treatment-related death had a CT-scan documented partial response (not confirmed according to RECIST due to death). One each died of pneumonitis and encephalitis. From the all-comer cohort, efficacy data are available for 18 patients. ORR was 38.8% with 7 partial and no complete responses. Stable disease occurred in 16.7% (n = 3) resulting in a DCR of 55.5%. TMB pre-screening for the amended cohort is currently ongoing. Conclusions: In the SCLC cohort, upfront combination therapy of nivolumab and ipilimumab shows remarkable ORR but is accompanied by high toxicity rates. In order to ensure a reasonable balance of risks and treatment benefit, only TMB high patients are included after an amendment of the cohort to improve the risk/benefit ratio. Clinical trial information: NCT03083691.

KEYNOTE-811 pembrolizumab plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy for HER2+ metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (mG/GEJC): A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.

TPS4146 Background: Combination therapy with the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab with fluoropyrimidine and platinum is the current standard for patients with HER2+ mG/GEJc. We hypothesize that combination anti–PD-1 and anti-HER2 therapy will result in T-cell activation, augment ADCC, and potentiate antitumor immune response in HER2+ patients. This phase 2 study in HER2+ mG/GEJc demonstrated the safety and preliminary efficacy of trastuzumab/pembrolizumab/chemotherapy; the overall response rate was 87%, and the disease control rate was 100% Janjigian YY, ASCO GI 2019). KEYNOTE 811, a global, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study, is underway. Methods: Key eligibility criteria are age ≥18 years; previously untreated unresectable or metastatic HER2+ (centrally confirmed IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH >2.0) G/GEJ adenocarcinoma; life expectancy >6 months with RECIST v1.1 measurable disease; adequate organ function and performance status. Patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive chemotherapy with pembrolizumab 200 mg IV flat dose or placebo with trastuzumab 6 mg/kg (after 8 mg/kg load) Q3W up to 2 years or until intolerable toxicity or disease progression. Investigator choice chemotherapy will include day 1 cisplatin 80 mg/m2 IV and /5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2/day IV (days 1-5) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 IV and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 BID days 1-14 (Q3W). Primary end points are progression-free survival and overall survival. Secondary end points are objective response rate, duration of response, and safety and tolerability. Adverse events are graded per NCI CTCAE v4.0 and will be monitored for 30 or 90 days after treatment. Patients will be followed up for survival. Planned enrollment is approximately 692 patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03615326.

Updated phase I trial of anti-LAG-3 or anti-CD137 alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 in patients with recurrent GBM.

2017 Background: Preclinical GBM data targeting the checkpoint molecules Lag-3 and CD137 have shown promising anti-tumor immune response with resultant improved survival when combined with anti-PD-1. Here we report our experience from a multi-arm safety study in patients with recurrent GBM treated with anti-Lag-3 and anti-CD137. Methods: The Adult Brain Tumor Consortium (ABTC) 1501 trial is a phase I, open label, multicenter, multi-arm dose-finding/safety study of anti-LAG-3 (BMS-986016) or anti-CD137 (BMS-663513) alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 in patients at first recurrence of GBM. The primary objective is to define MTD for the mono and combinational treatment. The major secondary objective is to explore for a signal in efficacy. The key inclusion criteria are adults, first recurrence of GBM following RT+TMZ, TLC≥1000/ul, KPS≥ 60%, stable corticosteroid regimen, measurable disease, and written informed consent. Sequential allocation was used for the treatment assignment at starting dose of 80mg for anti-LAG-3 and 8mg for anti-CD137. Anti-PD-1was given at a flat dose of 240 mg in the combination treatment arms. The 3+3 design is used for the dose finding with a target DLT rate < 33%. Results: to date 44 patients were enrolled into the trial with median age at 57, median KPS at 90. Median treatment cycle was 3 and 39% tumors were MGMT methylated. The highest safe dose for Anti-LAG-3 alone is 800 mg without a DLT. The safe dose for anti-CD137 alone arm is 8mg with 1 DLT, and 2 grade 3 elevated serum ALT at end of cycle 2. Combination arms of Anti-LAG-3 +anti-PD-1 (160 mg/240mg as the highest dose combination) had one DLT (hypertension) and no toxicities were seen in the combination arm of Anti-CD137+Anti-PD-1 (3 mg/240 mg). mOS was 14 months for anti-CD137 alone, 8 months for Anti-Lag-3, and 7 months for Anti-Lag-3 + Anti-PD-1. Correlative data will be discussed. Conclusions: The trial is ongoing. The RP2D is 800mg for anti-LAG-3 as a monotherapy and 8mg for anti-CD137. For the combination arms, 160 mg of Anti-LAG-3 and 240 mg of anti-PD-1 and 3 mg of anti-CD137 and 240 mg antiPD-1 were the RP2D. Clinical trial information: NCT02658981.

Phase I trial of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) with cisplatin, mitomycin, and paclitaxel in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and carcinomatosis or positive cytology.

4056 Background: This phase I trial evaluated the safety and toxicity of laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion with chemotherapy (HIPEC) combining mitomycin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel for patients with gastric cancer metastatic to the peritoneum. Methods: A Bayesian optimal interval design was used to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of escalating doses of paclitaxel (starting dose of 20 mg/m2 to maximum dose of 60 mg/m2) in combination with flat doses of mitomycin (30 mg) and cisplatin (200 mg) during laparoscopic HIPEC for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma metastatic to the peritoneum. The primary endpoint was MTD. Secondary endpoints included surgical complications and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 27 patients were treated from November 2017 through November 2018. No dose-limiting toxicities were found. Treatment-related grade 1-2 side effects were leukopenia (11%), oral dysesthesia (4%), arthralgia (4%), and diarrhea (4%). Treatment-related grade 3-4 side effects included leukopenia (4%) and neutropenia (4%). The MTD was 60 mg/m2. Clavien-Dindo surgical complications were grade I (all representing electrolyte deficiencies requiring replacement) in 96% of patients, grade II in 4%, grade III in 0%, grade IV in 0%, and grade V in 4%. At a median follow-up of 15 months, the median OS from diagnosis of metastatic disease and the date of surgery has not been reached. One- and 2-year OS rates from the date of metastatic disease were 74% and 58%, respectively. The 1-year OS rate from the date of HIPEC was 51%. Conclusions: Laparoscopic HIPEC with mitomycin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel appears safe at intraperitoneal doses of 30 mg, 200 mg, and 60 mg/m2, respectively. Although electrolyte abnormalities are common, systemic toxicity of this therapy is modest. Survival rates are promising, supporting further research into intraperitoneal therapy for stage IV gastric cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT03330028.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab treatment in prostate cancer with an immunogenic signature (NEPTUNES).

TPS5090 Background: Responses to checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) monotherapy in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have been limited. This is in part attributed to low tumour mutational burden (TMB) and low tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Previously ~20% patients with prostate cancer have demonstrated high TILs or TMB1. We hypothesize that patients with higher TMB due to mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or defective DNA damage response (dDDR) and patients with high TILs are more likely to respond to combination CPI with anti PD-1 and anti CTLA-4 therapy. Methods: NEPTUNES is a single arm phase II trial designed to assess the efficacy of nivolumab and ipilimumab in biomarker selected patients with mCRPC that have progressed following ≥1 line of therapy. The immunogenic signature (ImS) biomarker is defined by ≥1 of the following: 1) dMMR by immunohistochemistry (IHC); 2) dDDR detected by the UW-OncoPlex sequencing assay and; 3) high TILs on multiplexed IHC. The UW-OncoPlex assay detects mutations in >260 genes and provides an estimation of TMB. Assuming an ImS+ rate of 20%, we aim to pre-screen 175 patients in order to enrol 35 patients into the main study. The primary endpoint is composite response rate (CRR), achieved if ≥1 of the following criteria are satisfied: 1) radiological response by RECIST 1.1; 2) PSA response ≥50%; 3) conversion of circulating tumour cells (CTC) count from ≥5 cells at baseline to <5 cells at week 9. The treatment will be deemed ineffective if the CRR is <20%. Nivolumab (1 mg/kg) and ipilimumab (3 mg/kg) is dosed every three weeks for up to 4 times, followed by a 480mg flat dose of nivolumab every 4 weeks for up to one year. Baseline biopsies are mandated and paired biopsy at week 12 is encouraged. The secondary endpoints include safety, overall survival, and radiological and PSA progression free survival. Exploratory biological markers including TMB, mutational profiles, change in TILs and liquid biomarkers will be correlated with the primary clinical endpoint. Since opening in February 2018, 126 patients have been pre-screened with 25 ImS+. To date, 9/25 ImS+ patients have been enrolled into the main study. The trial is ongoing, with patient accrual expected to complete by late 2019.

The Role of Early-Phase Design—Letter

Conaway and Petroni suggest that the choice of phase I design “substantially enhances the proportion of effective agents that have successful phase III trials (1).” This conclusion is based on first simulating various phase I designs aimed at determining the MTD for populations of hypothetical new agents, followed by a single-arm phase II trial of varying size, followed by a phase III trial. Unfortunately, the simulation relies on historical and outdated paradigms for development of cytotoxic antineoplastic agents, rather than well-established principles of clinical pharmacology and drug development used outside of oncology.The use of the historical oncology paradigm leads to several incorrect assumptions. The authors assume that as toxicity increases, efficacy increases. While this may be true for cytotoxic chemotherapy, it is not expected to be true for modern oncology drugs, where incremental increases in dose may have no incremental increase in efficacy and only lead to incremental toxicity due to off-target effects. In this context, the therapeutic index decreases as the dose is increased beyond that achieving maximal efficacy. The authors' failure to recognize the potential for a flat dose–response curve is particularly surprising, given that one of their cited references makes this explicit point for pembrolizumab, which they used as “a concrete example” (2).This concern is not only relevant for other immunotherapeutics, but for modern small molecules as well.A recent analysis of all patent-protected oral drugs demonstrated that the majority of drugs are labeled at too high a dose (3). Thus, despite the successful completion of the drug development process, patients may experience unnecessary toxicity due to our reliance on historical drug development paradigms that are no longer pharmacologically appropriate.In this context, I would encourage biostatisticians and others interested in the design of early clinical trials to focus their efforts on a different paradigm, one in which the optimal dose can only be determined by randomized dose-ranging phase II and III trials (4, 5). Despite the widespread use of this paradigm in other therapeutic areas, there has been little effort to modify phase I oncology designs, which should aim to define a range of doses for phase II investigation. Hopefully we can redefine success as efficacy without severe toxicity, rather than continuing to accept high rates of severe toxicity that compromise the quality of life of patients with cancer and drive up the cost of oncology care.See the Response, p. 3191M.J. Ratain is an employee of Value in Cancer Care Consortium; reports receiving commercial research grants from AbbVie and Genentech; is a consultant/advisory board member for Aptevo, Cyclacel, AbbVie, Amgen, Ascentage, BioMarin, Elion Oncology, Genentech, Portola Pharmaceuticals, and Shionogi; and reports receiving other remuneration from multiple generic pharmaceutical companies for expert testimony and patent litigation consulting. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

A retrospective analysis of tumor lysis syndrome management in a quaternary care hospital.

Due to an increased use of rasburicase, the study's purpose was to evaluate both the management of tumor lysis syndrome and the utilization of rasburicase in the hospital system. Additionally, the efficacy of flat dose rasburicase in lowering uric acid levels was evaluated. Based on the study's findings, the investigators will evaluate the usefulness of implementing a tumor lysis syndrome order set. This study evaluated patients from January 2013 through December 2016 for the rasburicase dose and the tumor lysis syndrome therapy administered. Overall, 251 patients were included: prophylactic rasburicase group (n = 125) vs. treatment rasburicase group (n = 126) and of rasburicase 3 mg (R3) group (n = 168) vs. 6 mg (R6) group (n = 83). The prophylactic rasburicase vs. treatment rasburicase group had a significantly lower rate of receiving a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (48.0% vs. 64.3%, p = 0.009), a phosphate binder (6.4% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.007) and an additional dose of rasburicase (20.8% vs. 41.3%, p = 0.001). Intravenous hydration was neither significantly different between the rasburicase groups (p = 0.399) nor between the two rasburicase dosing groups (p = 0.874). Between the rasburicase dosing groups, there was no significant difference in the rate of receiving a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (p = 0.521) or a phosphate binder (p = 0.390). R6 patients had a significantly greater reduction in uric acid change compared to R3 patients (median = -7.9 (-10.1, -5.5) vs. -4.3 (-6.0, -2.7), p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in uric acid change between the prophylactic rasburicase and treatment rasburicase groups (p = 0.875). The study's findings justified the need to implement a tumor lysis syndrome order set. In the study population, utilizing a flat dosing method was effective for hyperuricemia.

Switch to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) fixed-dose regimen: What is the economic impact?

BackgroundNivolumab and pembrolizumab were initially developed using weight-based regimen doses. Recently, fixed-dose regimens were commercialised with reference weights higher than the accurate weight of patients with cancer in routine practice. This may have important economic consequences for healthcare systems. Material and methodsBudget impact analysis was performed using real-world data both from Gustave Roussy database and the French National Hospital Discharge database and including patients treated with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab at Gustave Roussy and in France before the approval of fixed-dosing regimens in Europe. Main outcome is the expected annual budget impact of fixed-dosing regimens in France. ResultsFrom January to April 2018, 978 perfusions of anti–programmed cell death protein 1 were administered at our institution including 560 perfusions of nivolumab in 103 patients and 418 perfusions of pembrolizumab in 125 patients mainly treated for lung cancer and melanoma. The mean extra cost attributable to flat doses would have amounted to €284 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 241–327) per infusion of nivolumab and to €1287 (95% CI: 1200–1373) per infusion of pembrolizumab. Annually, at Gustave Roussy, it would represent an extra cost of € 477 120 (95% CI: 404 880–549 360) and €1 613 898 (95% CI: 1 504 800–1 721 742), respectively, for the year 2018. At the French national level, the expected annual budget impact is estimated at €55 162 211 for the year 2017. ConclusionsWeight references for fixed-dose regimens do not reflect the accurate mean weight of patients under cancer treatment and are likely to have substantial economic impact for healthcare systems.

IV labetalol and oral nifedipine in acute control of severe hypertension in pregnancy–A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of intravenous labetalol with oral nifedipine in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy with blood pressure ≥160/110 mm Hg. Design, setting and participantsWe conducted a parallel double-blinded randomized controlled trial between December 2014 to December 2016 in 120 antenatal women of gestational age >28 weeks, admitted with severe hypertension of blood pressure ≥160/110 mm Hg to maternity ward at a tertiary hospital.The labetalol group received 20 mg initially followed by escalating doses of 40 mg, 80 mg, 80 mg and 80 mg (5 doses) every 15 min to a maximum of 300 mg. Nifedipine group received 10 mg initially followed by repeated doses of 20 mg every 15 min (total 5 doses) to a maximum of 90 mg. Vital signs were recorded every 15 min.-The time taken and the number of doses required to achieve the target blood pressure (150/100 mmHg). Survival analysis was used to compare the efficacy of treatment regimens. ResultsSixty women were randomised to each group and none were lost to follow-up. None of the patients in nifedipine group required labetalol, whereas three patients in labetalol group achieved target BP only after receiving nifedipine was administered after the maximum dose of labetalol.The mean time taken to achieve the target blood pressure in the labetalol group was higher (36.75 min) than in the nifedipine group (27.25 min) [mean difference 9.5 min,p = 0.002]. Nifedipine group required significantly lower doses (1.82 ± 0.83) as compared to labetalol (2.45 ± 1.32) [p = 0.002]. Nifedipine was 1.8 times more likely to achieve target blood pressure (Hazard Ratio = 1.8). ConclusionsBoth intravenous Labetalol and oral Nifedipine were effective in controlling blood pressure. Nifedipine reduced BP more rapidly than Labetalol. Oral Nifedipine may be a better alternative because of its ease of oral administration and a flat dosing regimen.

Efficacy of nivolumab four-weekly dosing schedule based on body weight.

Nivolumab has received regulatory approval to be given by weight-based or flat dosing every two weeks or by flat dosing every four weeks. However, flat dosing would lead to unnecessarily high doses for patients with lower body weight, increasing the drug usage and probability of toxicity. We review the rationale of using a four-weekly hybrid dosing strategy using weight-based and flat-dosing regimens adopted by some jurisdictions.

Abstract OT2-06-05: A randomized phase II study of peri-operative ipilimumab, nivolumab and cryoablation versus standard peri-operative care in women with residual triple negative early stage/resectable breast cancer after standard-of-care neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a biologically distinct subtype with high risk of early relapse, particularly for patients who do not achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), with an event free survival of &amp;lt; 60% at 3 years. Physical disruption of tumors with cryoablation (cryo) induces inflammation and releases antigens that can activate tumor-specific immune responses. In pre-clinical studies, the combination of cryo with checkpoint inhibition augmented tumor-specific immune responses and prevented cancer recurrence. In clinical studies, the combination of pre-operative ipilimumab (ipi)- +/- nivolumab (nivo)-mediated checkpoint blockade with cryo was safely administered in women with operable, early stage breast cancer and generated intra-tumoral and systemic immune responses (NCT01502592, NCT02833233). In this multi-center, randomized study, we evaluate the disease specific impact of peri-operative ipi, nivo and cryo versus standard care in women with residual TNBC after neoadjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy (NCT03546686). Methods:Eligible pts are aged ≥18 years, with ER, PR and HER2 negative operable tumors ≥ 1.0 cm after neoadjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy. Approximately 160 patients will be randomized to one of two arms: standard-of-care breast surgery (control arm) or ipi/nivo/cryo followed by standard-of-care breast surgery (intervention arm). Subjects randomized to the intervention arm will undergo percutaneous, ultrasound- (or MRI-) guided cryoablation with concurrent research core biopsy 7-10 days prior to surgery, and will receive a pre-operative infusion with ipilimumab at the dose of 1mg/kg IV, and nivolumab 240mg flat dose IV (1 to 5 days prior to cryoablation). After surgery, patients will receive three additional doses of nivolumab 240mg flat dose IV Q2 weeks. Adjuvant capecitabine is recommended for all participants and will be administered per standard-of-care at the treating physician's discretion. Patients will be stratified by prior platinum administration, prior anthracycline administration, and clinical nodal status (positive versus negative) at enrollment. The primary endpoint is 3-year Event Free Survival (EFS). Secondary end points include Invasive Disease-Free Survival (IDFS), Distant Disease-Free Survival (DDFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Exploratory correlative studies will be performed on tumor and serum to characterize the immunologic impact of the intervention and to explore predictors of efficacy and toxicity. Citation Format: McArthur HL, Comen EA, Solomon S, Rodine M, DiLauro Abaya C, Leal JHS, Patil S, Norton L. A randomized phase II study of peri-operative ipilimumab, nivolumab and cryoablation versus standard peri-operative care in women with residual triple negative early stage/resectable breast cancer after standard-of-care neoadjuvant chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-06-05.

First-line pembrolizumab (P), trastuzumab (T), capecitabine (C) and oxaliplatin (O) in HER2-positive metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (mEGA).

62 Background: Trastuzumab stimulates HER2-specific T cell responses and increases tumor PD-L1 expression, and anti-PD-1 antibody can help enhance T cell-specific immunity of trastuzumab. Oxaliplatin can further enhance T-cells by activating dendritic cells. We conducted a phase II trial of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy/trastuzumab. Methods: Patients with previously untreated HER2 IHC 3+ or FISH+ tumors irrespective of PD-L1 status received intravenous P 200 mg flat dose, T 6 mg/kg (after 8 mg/kg load), O 130 mg/m2 every 3 weeks and oral C 850 mg/m2 2 weeks on/1 week off (or 5-FU continuous infusion). The primary endpoint was 6-months PFS; with target accrual of 37 patients. Secondary endpoints included safety, OS, ORR, exploratory biomarker analysis and 89Zr-trastuzumab PET. Results: 100% of the 24 evaluable pts had tumor regression (ranging from -22% to -100%). The RECIST 1.1 ORR was 83% [95%CI: 63%-95%] (17 PR , 3 CRs), median PFS 11.4 [95%CI: 6-15] months. In 31 pts evaluable for toxicity, common ( &gt; 10%) adverse events included Gr 2 fatigue (35%), Gr 2/3 nausea (35%), Gr 2 diarrhea (26%), Gr2 AST/ALT elevation (16%), Gr2 neutropenia (16%). Immune related toxicities observed in 1 pt each: Gr 2 colitis, Gr 3 interstitial nephritis, Gr 3 AST/ALT elevation; and resolved with steroids. Of 21 patients with available material, 6 (29%) expressed PD-L1. Of these 6 patients, 5 had a PR while 1 had a CR. ERBB2 amplification was evident on NGS in 56% of pre-treatment tumors from 25 tested patients, while the remaining were ERBB2- by NGS likely due to tumor heterogeneity or low tumor content. Mutations in TP53 and alterations in KRAS occurred in 68% and 16%, respectively. To identify mechanisms of acquired resistance, patients are biopsied at progression. In 6 paired sample analysis, we identified two patients with loss of ERBB2 amp at progression. Conclusions: Updated survival, correlative studies and 89Zr-trastuzumab PET imaging will be presented. These promising preliminary safety and efficacy results led to initiation of a definitive phase III Keynote 811 trial. Clinical trial information: NCT02954536.

Population pharmacokinetics analysis of nivolumab in Asian and non-Asian patients with gastric and gastro-esophageal junction cancers

PurposeNivolumab monotherapy provided clinically meaningful antitumor activity in Asian and non-Asian patients with chemotherapy-refractory gastric cancer (GC) or gastro-esophageal junction cancer (GEJC) in the ATTRACTION-2 and CheckMate 032 studies, respectively. This analysis assessed the population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) of nivolumab, the impact of covariates on pharmacokinetics (PK), and the PK of nivolumab flat dosing in GC/GEJC using samples from these studies.MethodsPopPK analyses were conducted using data from 1302 patients with solid tumors, including 387 patients with GC/GEJC who had received nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks (Q2W). The impact of covariates on nivolumab PK was assessed in the full model. Nivolumab exposures following a flat dose of 240 mg Q2W in patients with GC/GEJC were simulated and compared with those of 3 mg/kg Q2W.ResultsNivolumab PK was described using a 2-compartment, zero-order intravenous infusion and time-varying clearance (CL) model. Baseline CL in patients with GC/GEJC was ~ 33% greater than in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in second line or subsequent lines of treatment (2L+). The effect of race was not clinically relevant (< 20% difference). Nivolumab exposures following 240 mg Q2W were similar to 3 mg/kg Q2W in non-Asian patients and 46% higher in Asian patients due to lower body weight.ConclusionsNivolumab CL was increased in GC/GEJC relative to NSCLC 2L+. Higher nivolumab exposures achieved with 240 mg Q2W in Asian patients are predicted to be below the acceptable safety margin, supporting the use of a flat dose in both patient populations.

Design of a spherical applicator for intraoperative radiotherapy with a linear accelerator—a Monte Carlo simulation

Currently only flat dose distributions can be generated by electron beams of a linear accelerator for intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). However, spherical dose distributions are more desirable for certain types of cancers such as breast cancer and brain cancers. In this study, we propose the design of a spherical applicator for delivery of spherical dose distributions. The spherical applicator consists of an upper cylindrical collimator to collimate the electron beam, a middle scattering foil to scatter the beam and a lower hollow sphere with a modulator to shape the beam and a spherical shell used to contain the modulator. Monte Carlo (MC) codes EGSnrc/BEAMnrc and EGS4/DOSXYZ were employed to model the head of the Mobetron, the spherical applicator, and to calculate the dose distributions. Apart from the scattering foil made of tungsten, the region between the scattering foil and the inner surface of the modulator is empty whereas the remainder of the spherical applicator made of soft tissue-equivalent materials such as PMMA. As a measure of how close an object approaches a perfect circle, roundness was introduced to evaluate the dose distributions. In addition, the dose rate after modulation was investigated. A spherical applicator with a 20 mm-diametre cylindrical collimator and a 50 mm-diametre hollow sphere was designed. For electron beams of energies 4, 6, 9 and 12 MeV, the foil thickness was set to 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.2 mm, and the dose rate was about 30, 40, 50 and 60 cGy min−1, respectively. The roundness of the isodose curves in the coronal plane through the centre of the spherical applicator ranged from 0.01 to 0.12 cm whereas that in the axial plane ranged from 0.05 to 1.38 cm. Experiments are planned to further evaluate the feasibility of this spherical applicator design.Highlights• A spherical applicator with a 20 mm-diametre cylindrical collimator and a 50 mm-diametre hollow sphere was designed for delivery of spherical dose distributions for IORT with a linear accelerator.• For electron beams of energies 4, 6, 9 and 12 MeV, the dose rate was about 30, 40, 50 and 60 cGy min−1, respectively.• As a measure of how close an object approaches a perfect circle, roundness was introduced to evaluate the spherical dose distributions.• Experiments are planned to further evaluate the feasibility of this spherical applicator design.

Treatment and Dose Prioritization in Early Phase Platform Trials of Targeted Cancer Therapies

Summary With the advances in the discovery of molecular targets, there is increasing interest in evaluating targeted therapies for disease subtypes characterized by certain biomarkers. Patients with a certain biomarker could potentially benefit from different experimental drugs, and, therefore, evaluating the relative efficacy of these drugs is an important objective. We consider the design of an early phase platform trial where multiple therapies are evaluated in patients with different biomarkers, with the objective of identifing the best drug at an efficacious and safe dose for a given disease subtype. We use the continual reassessment method to estimate the maximum tolerated dose of a drug and adopt hierarchical Bayesian modelling to estimate the efficacy of a drug administered at multiple doses. Using the continual reassessment method and hierarchical Bayesian modelling as the basis of inference, we propose various algorithms that prescribe the drug–dose for the patients using adaptive randomization. We demonstrate that adaptive randomization puts more patients at the right drug and dose on average than does balanced randomization, with slightly larger variability in distribution, and has no effect on the accuracy of drug–dose selection. Moreover the simulations show advantages of hierarchical Bayesian modelling over the beta–binomial model in scenarios with relatively flat or partially flat dose–efficacy relationships.

Sequential Combination of Low-Intensity Chemotherapy (Mini-hyper-CVD) Plus Inotuzumab Ozogamicin with or without Blinatumomab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Philadelphia Chromosome-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): A Phase 2 Trial

Sequential Combination of Low-Intensity Chemotherapy (Mini-hyper-CVD) Plus Inotuzumab Ozogamicin with or without Blinatumomab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Philadelphia Chromosome-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): A Phase 2 Trial

Blinatumomab Administered Concurrently with Oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy Is a Well-Tolerated Consolidation Strategy and Eradicates Measurable Residual Disease in Adults with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Introduction: Incorporation of ABL-targeted oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to conventional chemotherapy regimens has improved outcomes for adult patients (pts) with (w/) Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). However, the addition of chemotherapy to TKIs may increase rates of infectious complications, organ toxicity, hospitalization, and mortality. As a result, we and others have investigated novel chemotherapy-sparing approaches for pts w/ Ph+ ALL. The CD3/CD19-targeted bispecific T-cell engager blinatumomab (BLIN) has demonstrated single-agent activity in pts w/ B-ALL w/ minimal residual disease (MRD) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) ALL, including R/R Ph+ ALL (Martinelli et al., J Clin Oncol, 2017). In an effort to deepen responses, we have used BLIN concomitantly w/ commercially available TKIs as consolidation and re-induction therapy. Reported experience w/ BLIN+TKI is limited. Herein we describe the observed safety and efficacy of BLIN+TKI in pts w/ Ph+ ALL w/ varying disease burden at our institution.Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of pts ≥ 18 years (yrs) old w/ previously treated Ph+ ALL receiving BLIN w/ concomitant, FDA-approved TKIs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) who began BLIN+TKI between March 2017 and April 2018. The primary objectives were to characterize the safety/toxicity profile and rates of MRD negativity by flow cytometry (FACS) and/or quantitative real-time PCR for BCR-ABL1 transcripts following consolidation (n=9) or re-induction (n=2) w/ BLIN+TKI.Results: Eleven pts (6F, 5M) were identified (Table 1). Median age at start of BLIN+TKI was 61.2 yrs (range, 27.7-76.9). Three pts had undergone prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). No pt had baseline hepatic dysfunction, central nervous system (CNS) or extramedullary (EM) disease prior to BLIN+TKI. All pts had documented CD19 expression on blasts prior to treatment. Ponatinib (PON) was the most commonly used TKI (n=7) followed by dasatinib (DAS, n=3), and nilotinib (NIL, n=1); one pt taking BLIN+PON briefly received BLIN+DAS during cycle 1. All pts were admitted for initiation of BLIN+TKI. BLIN was started at 9 mcg/day IVCI w/ escalation to 28 mcg/day IVCI on day 8 (per recommended dosing for pts w/ R/R ALL) in 10 pts and at 28 mcg/day IVCI in one pt (per flat dosing schedule described by Gökbuget et al., Blood, 2018).All 7 pts w/ MRD by FACS (n=5) and/or BCR-ABL1 PCR (n=7) prior to BLIN+TKI exhibited MRD negativity by FACS following 1 cycle of BLIN+TKI; 6 of these 7 pts achieved complete molecular response (CMR) by PCR following 1 cycle (n=5) or 2 cycles (n=1) of BLIN+TKI. All 6 remain in ongoing CMR at 1.8-15.1 months after initial achievement of CMR. Neither of the 2 pts w/ morphologic disease responded to BLIN+TKI and ultimately succumbed to their disease. The 2 pts who began BLIN+TKI in CMR have both maintained continuous CMR. Three pts have proceeded to 1st (n=2) or 2nd (n=1) alloHCT post-BLIN+TKI, without documented, relevant toxicities attributable to prior blinatumomab exposure. Median event-free and overall survival were not reached in this small group of pts, w/ median follow-up of 7.7 months among survivors (range, 3.2-16.0 months).Three pts developed grade 1 cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Notably, 2 of these pts had morphologic ALL at time of BLIN+TKI; none of these events warranted interruption of therapy or corticosteroids. No pts developed neurologic toxicity. Five pts exhibited transient transaminitis during BLIN+TKI; none reached recommended parameters to discontinue BLIN. Of these 5 pts, 4 were on concurrent PON. One pt required dose attenuation of PON; hepatic enzymes otherwise normalized w/o intervention.Conclusions: Our small series suggests that BLIN+TKI may be a safe and effective consolidation strategy for pts w/ MRD+ Ph+ ALL to achieve or sustain CMR, creating a platform for alloHCT or other post-remission therapy. Observed rates of CRS were higher and neurologic toxicity appeared lower (none documented) than in other studies of BLIN in pts w/ MRD (Gökbuget et al., Blood, 2018). Higher risk of transaminitis was noted in pts receiving BLIN+PON and warrants further observation, particularly as 28 mcg/day IVCI flat dosing is increasingly used for pts w/ MRD. Earlier incorporation of BLIN+TKI into treatment paradigms for Ph+ ALL may limit toxicity while deepening response and maintaining CMR. [Display omitted] DisclosuresKing:Genentech: Other: Advisory Board . Tallman:Daiichi-Sankyo: Other: Advisory board; Orsenix: Other: Advisory board; Cellerant: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; AROG: Research Funding; BioSight: Other: Advisory board. Park:Pfizer: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy. Geyer:Dava Oncology: Honoraria.

JWCAR029 Is a CD19-Targeted CAR T Cell Product with Process and Quality Controls Delivered As a Flat Dose of CAR T Cell to Patients with NHL

Background:JWCAR029 is the first IND approved CD19-targeted CAR T cell product by China National Drug Administration (CNDA) containing 4-1BB as the co-stimulatory factor with highly reproducible process and quality control that allows flat dose of CAR T cell infusion. To date, a total of 22 lots have been manufactured and 18 subjects have been infused in the ongoing multicenter, Phase 1 trial (NCT03344367 and NCT03355859) evaluating the safety and efficacy of JWCAR029 in adult relapsed or refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. The process and quality control strategy for JWCAR029 contributes to the low variability in drug product quality attributes.Methods:Manufacturing of JWCAR029 begins with patient derived autologous T cells obtain via apheresis. JWCAR029 drug products were analyzed for viability, potency, subtype of T cells, copy numbers of lentiviral vector, and cell health related attributes using cellometer related bioassays, flow cytometry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction system (qPCR), respectively.Results:Process and quality of JWCAR029 started with an automated wash and T cell purification that results in pure CD3+ populations (median 99.56%, Inter Quartile Range [IQR] 99.22-99.86%). CD3+ T cells were transduced with lentiviral vector expressing a CD19-directed CAR with a 4-1 BB/CD3ζ endodomain. CAR+ T cells were cultured to a target cell dose and then formulated / cryopreserved for infusion. To reduce between-lot variance, the cryopreserved drug product (CDP) was packaged at fixed volume with a tight range of viable cell concentrations (CD3+: median 40.25 × 10^6 cells/mL, IQR 31.10-69.13 × 10^6 cells/mL, N=22) and CD3+CAR+ cell concentrations (median 27.25 × 10^6 cells/mL, IQR 23.57-33.10 × 10^6 cells/mL, N=22). JWCAR029 does not use a fixed ratio of CD4+CAR+ cells/CD8+CAR+ cells in the final CDP (median 1.18, IQR 0.70-1.95, N=22).In the ongoing, multicenter, single arm, open-label and dose escalation Phase 1 trial, JWCAR029 was administered as a flat dose at dose level 1 (DL1) of 2.5 × 10^7 CAR+ T cells (6 subjects), at dose level 2 (DL2) of 5.0 × 10^7 CAR+ T cells (9 subjects), or dose level 3 (DL3) of 1.0 × 10^8 CAR+ T cells (3 subjects). After infusion, stable expansion of CD4+ and CD8+ CAR+ T cells were observed and peak value was appeared at day 11 to day 15 after administration. Low occurrence rate and manageable cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity (NT) with high complete response (CR) rate were observed with emerging dose: response relationship. Detailed PK, clinical safety, and efficacy data of JWCAR029 will be presented separately.Conclusion:In order to employ standardized and high quality cell therapy methods in a Chinese multi-center trial, JWCAR029 was developed to provide a CD19-directed 4-1BB CAR T cell product with highly controlled manufacturing and quality processes enables administration in adult relapsed or refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma subjects. These control strategies in manufacturing and quality processes facilitated to the low rates of CRS and NT. DisclosuresHao:JW Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cheng:JW Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gao:JW Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Liu:JW Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lam:JW Therapeutics: Consultancy. Yao:JW Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership; WuXi AppTec: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.