Investigator-assessed Objective Response Rate Research Articles

Biomarker-directed precision oncology of pembrolizumab-based combination therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: Phase II KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT study.

TPS9117 Background: Pembrolizumab-based combination immunotherapy aims to improve clinical outcomes over pembrolizumab monotherapy. A biomarker-based therapeutic approach may be associated with improved response to different combination therapies of immune checkpoint inhibitors and may improve overall outcomes in NSCLC. The randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 2 KEYNOTE-495 trial ( NCT03516981 ) will evaluate the clinical usefulness of biomarker-informed, pembrolizumab-based combination therapy in patients with treatment-naive, advanced NSCLC. Methods: This is a group-sequential, adaptive randomization trial. Patients will have histologically or cytologically confirmed treatment-naive, advanced NSCLC, documented absence of EGFR and B-Raf mutations and ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangements, measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, and ECOG PS 0-1. Tumor tissue from patients will be initially screened for 2 validated, independent, next-generation biomarkers: T cell–inflamed gene expression profile (GEP) and tumor mutational burden (TMB). Based on results of biomarker screening, patients will be assigned to 1 of 4 groups: TMBlowGEPlow, TMBhighGEPlow, TMBlowGEPhigh, and TMBhighGEPhigh. Within each group, patients will be randomly assigned to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W intravenously (IV) combined with either MK-4280 200 mg Q3W (anti–LAG-3) IV or lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily, with the randomization assignment adaptively modified based on interim efficacy analyses. Response will be assessed by imaging every 9 weeks for the first year and every 12 weeks thereafter using RECIST v1.1. Treatment will continue for 35 cycles (~2 years). Patients in the pembrolizumab + lenvatinib arm who complete 35 treatments may continue with lenvatinib monotherapy until disease progression or toxicity. Treatment arms may be terminated during the interim analysis due to safety, prespecified futility criteria, or both. Primary end point is investigator-assessed objective response rate (RECIST v1.1). Secondary end points are progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Recruitment and screening are ongoing in more than 8 countries. Clinical trial information: NCT03516981.

Nivolumab (NIVO) + low-dose ipilimumab (IPI) as first-line (1L) therapy in microsatellite instability-high/DNA mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Clinical update.

3521 Background: In the phase 2 CheckMate 142 trial, NIVO + low-dose IPI provided robust and durable clinical benefit and was well tolerated as 1L therapy for MSI-H/dMMR mCRC (Lenz et al. Ann Oncol 2018;29:LBA18). Longer follow-up data will be presented. Methods: Patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC and no prior treatment for metastatic disease received NIVO 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks + low-dose IPI 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks until disease progression or discontinuation. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR). Results: For all 45 patients (median follow-up was 13.8 months), ORR was 60% (95% CI 44.3–74.3). Responses were consistent with the overall population across subgroups including age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, prior adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy, and mutation status (Table). Seven patients (16%) had grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs); 3 (7%) had any grade TRAEs leading to discontinuation. Updated response, survival, and safety data after a longer follow-up (median 19.9 months) will be presented. Conclusions: NIVO + low-dose IPI demonstrated robust and durable clinical benefit and was well tolerated. Evaluated subgroups had responses consistent with the overall population. NIVO + low-dose IPI may represent a new 1L treatment option for patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC. Clinical trial information: NCT02060188. [Table: see text]

CA224-060: A randomized, open label, phase II trial of relatlimab (anti-LAG-3) and nivolumab with chemotherapy versus nivolumab with chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

TPS4143 Background: Blockade of the immune checkpoint receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) has shown clinical benefit in multiple tumor types. Nivolumab (anti–PD-1) has demonstrated a survival advantage versus (vs) placebo in patients (pts) with advanced gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC) (Kang YK et al. Lancet 2017;390:2461–71). Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) is an immune checkpoint molecule that negatively regulates effector T-cell function and is a marker of T-cell exhaustion. Preliminary data in melanoma suggest that combining nivolumab with relatlimab (anti–LAG-3) could improve efficacy without substantially increasing toxicity vs nivolumab especially, but not exclusively, in LAG-3-expressing pts (Ascierto PA et al. Ann Oncol 2017;28(S5):LBA18). Furthermore, LAG-3 expression was as high as 33% in an analysis of solid tumors including GC (Edwards R et al. J Immunother Cancer 2017;5(S3):P510). Study CA224-060 will assess the clinical efficacy and safety of relatlimab and nivolumab with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of GC or GEJC. Methods: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase 2 study of relatlimab and nivolumab with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy vs nivolumab with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Approximately 250 adult pts with untreated, locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic GC or GEJC will be enrolled. To be randomized, pts must have tumor tissue for analysis of biomarkers, LAG-3 status, and PD-L1 combined positive score. Key exclusion criteria include HER2-positive status, untreated CNS metastases, or significant cardiovascular disease. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v.1.1 by blinded independent central review in LAG-3-expressing pts. Other endpoints include investigator-assessed ORR, ORR in LAG-3-negative pts, duration of response, overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety and tolerability. Efficacy signals in biomarker subgroups will be explored. Currently, 26 sites are activated with 15 randomized pts. Clinical trial information: NCT03662659.

Erdafitinib in high-risk patients (pts) with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC).

4543 Background: The pan-FGFR inhibitor erdafitinib exhibited a robust objective response rate (ORR) and tolerability among pts with FGFR2/3-altered advanced UC in the BLC2001 (NCT02365597) phase 2 study (Siefker-Radtke ASCO 2018 #4503). Here we report a post hoc subgroup analysis to explore efficacy among high-risk pts. Methods: The analysis included 99 BLC2001 pts who received the optimized dose regimen of 8 mg/d continuous (pharmacodynamically guided uptitrated to 9 mg/d per serum phosphate). Results for ORR, duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by select baseline variables, with high-risk defined as age >75 y, ECOG PS 2, hemoglobin <10 g/dL, visceral metastases, and 2 or 3 Bellmunt risk factors. Results: Efficacy results (Table) show investigator-assessed ORR >36% and median PFS >5 mo across all subgroups except ECOG PS 2. OS data are immature but generally follow the trend of PFS. With the exception of ECOG 2, there were no differences in G3/4 serious AE proportions by subgroup. Conclusions: The post hoc subgroup findings support that erdafitinib generally provides comparable efficacy in high-risk pts with FGFR-altered advanced UC as the overall population. Clinical trial information: NCT02365597. [Table: see text]

Safety and Efficacy of Crizotinib in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic ROS1-Rearranged Lung Cancer (EUCROSS): A European Phase II Clinical Trial

IntroductionROS1 rearrangements are found in 1% of lung cancer patients. Therapeutic efficacy of crizotinib in this subset has been shown in early phase trials in the United States and East Asia. Here we present data on efficacy and safety of a prospective phase II trial evaluating crizotinib in European ROS1-positive patients (EUCROSS). Patients and MethodsThe trial was a multicenter, single-arm phase II trial (Clinicaltrial.gov identifier: NCT02183870). Key eligibility criteria included patients who were 18 years of age or older with advanced/metastatic lung cancer and centrally confirmed ROS1-rearranged lung cancer (fluorescence-in situ hybridization). Treatment included 250 mg crizotinib twice daily. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1). Key secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, efficacy by independent radiologic review, safety, health-related quality of life, and molecular characterization of tumor tissue. ResultsThirty-four patients received treatment. Four patients were excluded from efficacy analysis. Investigator ORR was 70% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51–85; 21 of 30 patients) and median PFS was 20.0 months (95% CI: 10.1–not reached). Two patients with ROS1 wild-type sequences assessed by DNA sequencing had progression as best response. CD74-ROS1-positive patients had a trend towards a higher ORR and longer median PFS. TP53-co-mutant patients had a significantly shorter median PFS than wild-type patients (7.0 months, 95% CI: 1.7–20.0 versus 24.1 months, 95% CI: 10.1–not reached; p = 0.022). Treatment-related adverse events were documented in 33 of 34 patients (97%). ConclusionsCrizotinib is highly effective and safe in patients with ROS1-rearranged lung cancer. ROS1-/TP53-co-aberrant patients had a significantly worse outcome compared to TP53 wild-type patients.

Abstract PD1-11: nextMONARCH 1: Phase 2 study of abemaciclib plus tamoxifen or abemaciclib alone in HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer

Abstract Background Abemaciclib is a selective CDK4 & 6 inhibitor approved on a continuous dosing schedule for HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer (ABC) as monotherapy (MONARCH 1) and in combination with endocrine therapy (ET). A previous Phase 1b (NCT01394016) cohort of HR+ ABC patients (pts) demonstrated efficacy of abemaciclib monotherapy (150mg and 200mg Q12H starting dose); given the small sample size and nonrandomized design the impact of the starting dose was unclear. nextMONARCH 1 (NCT02747004) evaluated abemaciclib in 2 monotherapy arms, in a randomized setting. Abemaciclib has been associated with dose-dependent early onset diarrhea that is well managed with antidiarrheal therapy. nextMONARCH 1 also explored the 200mg Q12H abemaciclib dose in combination with prophylactic loperamide to reduce incidence/severity of diarrhea and dose adjustments. A third arm evaluated abemaciclib + tamoxifen as a strategy to overcome endocrine resistance. Methods nextMONARCH 1 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase 2 study of abemaciclib or abemaciclib + tamoxifen in women with HR+, HER2- ABC who have progressed on or after prior ET and previously received chemotherapy. Pts were stratified by presence of liver metastases and prior use of tamoxifen in the advanced setting. Randomization was 1:1:1 to abemaciclib 150mg Q12H + daily tamoxifen 20mg (Arm A) or abemaciclib 150mg Q12H (Arm B); or abemaciclib 200mg Q12H + prophylactic loperamide (Arm C). Key eligibilities were ≥2 chemotherapy regimens (1-2 administered in metastatic setting), measurable disease and no prior treatment with CDK4 & 6 inhibitors. Primary objective was progression free survival (PFS). Key secondary objectives included objective response rate (ORR), dclinical benefit rate (CBR), and safety. PFS analysis tested superiority of Arm A to C at ∼110 events across the 2 arms assuming a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.667 to achieve ∼80% power. Arm B would be considered non-inferior to Arm C if the observed PFS HR is <1.2. Results 234 pts were randomized to Arms A (n=78), B (n=79) and C (n=77). 166 PFS events have been observed (A: 57; B: 54; C: 55). Median PFS was 9.1 months in Arm A, 6.5 in Arm B and 7.4 in Arm C (A vs C: HR=.815, 95% CI, .556-1.193, p=.293; B vs C: HR=1.045, 95% CI, .711-1.535 p=.811). Investigator-assessed ORR was 34.6%, 24.1% and 32.5% (confirmed ORR: 25.6%, 19.0%, 28.6%) and CBR was 61.5%, 49.4% and 51.9% in Arms A, B and C, respectively. Prophylactic loperamide reduced the incidence and severity of diarrhea (C: 62.3%, Gr 3: 7.8%) compared to MONARCH 1 (90.2%, Gr 3: 19.7%, Dickler et al. 2017) resulting in similar rates of diarrhea with 150mg abemaciclib without prophylaxis (A: 53.8%, Gr 3: 1.3%; B: 67.1%, Gr 3: 3.8%). The adverse event profile across arms was generally consistent with other breast studies of abemaciclib. Conclusions nextMONARCH 1 confirmed single-agent activity of abemaciclib in heavily pretreated pts with HR+, HER2- ABC. Efficacy of abemaciclib monotherapy at 150mg was similar to 200mg. Combining tamoxifen with abemaciclib did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to abemaciclib monotherapy. Addition of prophylactic loperamide to abemaciclib 200mg resulted in diarrhea similar to 150mg without prophylaxis. Citation Format: Hamilton E, Cortes J, Dieras V, Ozyilkan O, Chen S-C, Petrakova K, Manikhas A, Jerusalem G, Hegg R, Lu Y, Bear MM, Johnston EL, Martin M. nextMONARCH 1: Phase 2 study of abemaciclib plus tamoxifen or abemaciclib alone in HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer [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 PD1-11.

Abstract OT2-06-04: MORPHEUS: A phase Ib/II trial platform evaluating the safety and efficacy of multiple cancer immunotherapy combinations in patients with hormone receptor–positive and triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: Cancer immunotherapy (CIT) has significantly improved overall survival across multiple tumor types, but only subsets of patients experience durable response with single-agent CIT. Combinations of CIT with targeted therapy or chemotherapy may be needed in order to target multiple cancer immune escape mechanisms simultaneously, thus providing personalized treatment options that extend clinical benefit to more patients. The MORPHEUS platform includes multiple phase Ib/II trials designed to identify early signals of safety and activity of CIT combinations. Using a randomized trial design, multiple CIT combination arms are compared with a single standard-of-care control arm. These trials have the flexibility to open new treatment arms with novel CIT combinations as they become available and to close arms that show minimal activity or unacceptable toxicity. Here we describe MORPHEUS trials in patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced hormone receptor–positive (HR+BC) or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), 2 patient populations in need of more treatment options. Trial design: MORPHEUS-HR+BC (NCT03280563) will enroll patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced HR+BC who have progressed during or after first-line treatment with a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor and whose tumors do not express human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2). MORPHEUS-TNBC (NCT03424005) will enroll patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced TNBC who have progressed during or after first-line treatment with chemotherapy. For both studies, key inclusion criteria include Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1 (stage 1) or 0-2 (stage 2) and measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1. Key exclusion criteria include prior treatment with T-cell co-stimulating or immune checkpoint blockade therapies, and symptomatic, untreated, or actively progressing central nervous system metastases. Patients in both trials will be randomized to one of the CIT atezolizumab combination arms or a control arm (up to 5 arms in HR+BC and up to 6 arms in TNBC). Patients experiencing loss of clinical benefit or unacceptable toxicity in stage 1 may be eligible to switch to a different CIT atezolizumab combination arm in stage 2. Primary endpoints are safety measures and investigator-assessed objective response rate per RECIST v1.1. Progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, clinical benefit rate (HR+BC) or disease control rate (TNBC) are among the secondary endpoints. Exploratory biomarkers will also be examined. Citation Format: Yardley DA, Abu-Khalaf M, Boni V, Brufsky A, Emens LA, Gutierrez M, Hurvitz S, Im S-A, Loi S, McCune SL, Schmid P, O'Hear C, Zhang X, Vidal GA. MORPHEUS: A phase Ib/II trial platform evaluating the safety and efficacy of multiple cancer immunotherapy combinations in patients with hormone receptor–positive and triple-negative breast cancer [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 OT2-06-04.

Abstract PD1-03: Single agent activity of U3-1402, a HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, in HER3-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer: Updated results of a phase 1/2 trial

Abstract Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors, including breast cancer. However, there are no approved HER3-targeted anti-cancer therapies. U3-1402 is a HER3-targeted antibody drug conjugate with a novel peptide-based cleavable linker attached to a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. It has a high drug-to-antibody ratio (7:1 to 8:1), a novel linker which is stable in plasma and selectively cleaved by lysosomal cathepsins up-regulated in cancer cells, and a payload with a short systemic half-life. The ongoing, phase 1/2 study (NCT02980341) was initiated to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of U3-1402 in HER3-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The study has 3 parts: Dose Escalation, Dose Finding, and Dose Expansion. Here we report updated results from Dose Escalation and Dose Finding. Methods: In Dose Escalation, the dose of U3-1402 was escalated based on dose-limiting toxicity data (between 1.6 and 8.0 mg/kg) and guided by the modified Continuous Reassessment Method. In Dose Finding, patients were treated with 1 of 2 doses (4.8 mg/kg or 6.4 mg/kg) identified during Dose Escalation. In both parts, U3-1402 was administered via IV infusion in 21-day cycles. The primary objectives were to determine the safety and tolerability of U3-1402, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and the recommended dose for expansion. Efficacy assessments included investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR; proportion of complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]) per RECIST v1.1 and disease control rate (DCR; proportion of CR + PR + stable disease). Efficacy-evaluable patients received ≥1 dose of U3-1402 and had pre- and post-treatment tumor assessments. Pharmacokinetics and the anti-drug antibodies were also assessed. Results: As of 1 June 2018, a total of 42 patients received U3-1402 across Dose Escalation and Dose Finding (34 and 8 patients, respectively). Overall, 12 patients have discontinued treatment (9 due to progressive disease, 1 due to clinical progression, 1 due to Grade 2 pneumonitis, and 1 due to withdrawal of consent). A total of 30 patients remain on treatment (33.3% [14/42] for ≥6 months). The median (range) age was 54.5 (30–81), and majorities of patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (76.2%; 32/42) and had received ≥5 prior anti-cancer regimens (78.6%; 33/42). Among efficacy-evaluable patients, the ORR was 46.3% (19/41) and the DCR was 90.2% (37/41). Grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs (TEAEs) were reported in 61.9% (26/42) patients. TEAEs (>50% in treated patients) regardless of causality (any grade, Grade ≥3) included nausea (83.3%, 4.8%), thrombocytopenia (71.4%, 33.3%), decreased appetite (64.3%, 7.1%), neutropenia (59.5%, 26.2%), and leukopenia (57.1%, 19.0%). The MTD was not reached; dose limiting toxicities included events of decreased platelet count and increases in AST or ALT. Conclusions: In a preliminary analysis of this ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trial, U3-1402 demonstrated antitumor activity in a substantial number of heavily pretreated HER3-expressing MBC patients, and U3-1402 treatment was associated with a manageable safety profile. Citation Format: Masuda N, Yonemori K, Takahashi S, Kogawa T, Nakayama T, Iwase H, Takahashi M, Toyama T, Saeki T, Saji S, Inoue K, Onuma H, Tajima N, Shiose Y, Chen S, Guevara F, Yu C, Ueno S, Iwata H. Single agent activity of U3-1402, a HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, in HER3-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer: Updated results of a phase 1/2 trial [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 PD1-03.

A phase II, randomised study of mFOLFOX6 with or without the Akt inhibitor ipatasertib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer

BackgroundAkt activation is common in gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) and is associated with chemotherapy resistance. Treatment with ipatasertib, a pan-Akt inhibitor, may potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapy in GC/GEJC. Patients and methodsIn this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase II trial, patients with locally advanced or metastatic GC/GEJC not amenable to curative therapy were randomised 1:1 to receive ipatasertib or placebo, plus mFOLFOX6 (modified regimen of leucovorin, bolus and infusional 5-fluorouracil [5-FU], and oxaliplatin). The co-primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population and in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)–low patients. Secondary end-points included PFS in patients with PI3K/Akt pathway–activated tumours; overall survival, investigator-assessed objective response rate and duration of response in the ITT population; and safety assessments. ResultsIn 153 enrolled patients, the median PFS (ITT) was 6.6 months (90% confidence interval [CI], 5.7–7.5) with ipatasertib/mFOLFOX6 versus 7.5 months (90% CI, 6.2–8.1) with placebo/mFOLFOX6 (hazard ratio, 1.12; 90% CI, 0.81–1.55; P = 0.56). No statistically significant PFS benefit was observed in biomarker-selected patient subgroups (PTEN-low and PI3K/Akt pathway–activated tumours) with ipatasertib/mFOLFOX6 versus placebo/mFOLFOX6. Other secondary end-points did not favour the ipatasertib/mFOLFOX6 treatment arm. The percentages of patients with ≥1 adverse event (AE, 100% versus 98%) and grade ≥3 AEs (79% versus 74%) were similar between arms. Higher rates of AEs leading to treatment withdrawal (16% versus 6%) and serious AEs were reported in the ipatasertib arm (54% versus 43%). Thirty-nine and 29 deaths occurred in the ipatasertib and placebo arms, respectively. ConclusionsIpatasertib/mFOLFOX6 compared with placebo/mFOLFOX6 did not improve PFS in unselected or biomarker-selected patients. No unexpected safety concerns were observed. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01896531).

Nivolumab Combined with Brentuximab Vedotin for Relapsed/Refractory Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Preliminary Results from the Phase 2 CheckMate 436 Trial

Nivolumab Combined with Brentuximab Vedotin for Relapsed/Refractory Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Preliminary Results from the Phase 2 CheckMate 436 Trial

Pyrotinib or Lapatinib Combined with Capecitabine in Women with HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated with Taxanes, Anthracyclines, And/Or Trastuzumab: An Open-Label, Randomised, Phase 2 Study

Background: Pyrotinib, an irreversible pan-ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, showed promising antitumour activity and acceptable tolerability in a phase 1 breast cancer trial. We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of pyrotinib versus lapatinib, both with capecitabine, in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Methods: This open-label, multicentre, randomised phase 2 study was conducted at 11 hospitals in China in patients with HER2-positive relapsed or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxanes, anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab, and two or fewer chemotherapy regimens. Using stratified block randomisation, patients were assigned (1:1) to receive either 400 mg pyrotinib or 1250 mg lapatinib orally once daily for 21-day cycles in combination with capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14). The primary endpoint (investigator-assessed objective response rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1) and safety were assessed in patients who received ≥1 dose of study treatment. Findings: Between May 29, 2015 and March 15, 2016, 128 eligible patients were randomly assigned to the pyrotinib (n=65) or lapatinib (n=63) treatment groups. The objective response rate was 78·5% (95% CI 68·5-88·5) with pyrotinib and 57·1% (95% CI 44·9-69·4) with lapatinib (treatment difference 21·3%, 95% CI 4·0-38·7; p=0·01). The most frequent grade 3-4 adverse events were hand-foot syndrome in 16 (24·6%) of 65 patients in the pyrotinib group vs 13 (20·6%) of 63 in the lapatinib group; diarrhoea (ten [15·4%] vs three [4·8%]); and decreased neutrophil count (six [9·2%] vs two [3·2%]). Interpretation: These findings support the use of pyrotinib plus capecitabine as an effective treatment option for pre-treated relapsed or metastatic breast cancer. Clinical Trial Number: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02422199) and is closed to new participants Funding Statement: Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd., CAMS Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS-12M-1-010) and Grant No. 2015ZX09101007003 from National Science and Technology Major. Declaration of Interests: JZ and XZ are employed by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. All other authors report no potential conflicts. Ethics Approval Statement: If a patient agreed to participate, she was required to provide written informed consent before enrollment. Investigations were performed in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations and the Helsinki declaration, after approval by the local ethics committee at each participating site.

FIR: Efficacy, Safety, and Biomarker Analysis of a Phase II Open-Label Study of Atezolizumab in PD-L1–Selected Patients With NSCLC

IntroductionThe FIR phase II study (NCT01846416) evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti–programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) atezolizumab in advanced NSCLC selected by tumor cell (TC) or tumor-infiltrating immune cell (IC) PD-L1 expression. MethodsPatients with PD-L1 TC2/3 (PD-L1 staining on ≥5% of TC) or IC2/3 tumors (PD-L1 staining on ≥5% of IC; determined by SP142 PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay) with paired fresh and archival histology samples were recruited into cohort 1 (chemotherapy-naive/>6 months between adjuvant chemotherapy and recurrence), cohort 2 (≥ second-line without brain metastases), or cohort 3 (≥ second-line with treated brain metastases). Patients received 1200 mg atezolizumab on day 1 (21-day cycles). Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, objective response rate (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1). Secondary endpoints were overall survival, progression-free survival, duration of response, and safety. ResultsPatients (N = 138) were enrolled (137 evaluable for response: cohort 1, n = 31; cohort 2, n = 93; and cohort 3, n = 13). Investigator-assessed objective response rate was 32%, 21%, and 23% for cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 81%, 67%, and 69% of patients, respectively, including grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events in 16%, 19%, and 15%, respectively. Moreover, 88.6% (86 of 97) paired baseline tumor samples had <5% change in TC/IC PD-L1 expression over time. ConclusionsAtezolizumab monotherapy showed clinical activity in patients with NSCLC, including those with brain metastases; safety was consistent with previous trials. Atezolizumab has completed phase III monotherapy studies in second-line. Front-line trials are ongoing, confirming these favorable results.

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab in combination with sunitinib or pazopanib in advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the CheckMate 016 study

BackgroundCombination treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic drugs has shown encouraging preliminary antitumor activity across various tumor types including advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). The open-label, parallel-cohort, dose-escalation, phase I CheckMate 016 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in combination with antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors or ipilimumab. Long-term outcomes from this study for the combination of nivolumab plus sunitinib or pazopanib in aRCC are presented.MethodsPatients with aRCC received nivolumab plus either sunitinib (50 mg/day, 4 weeks on/2 weeks off; N + S) or pazopanib (800 mg/day; N + P) until progression/unacceptable toxicity. The nivolumab starting dose was 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks, with planned escalation to 5 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability; antitumor activity was a secondary endpoint.ResultsArm N + S enrolled 33 patients, 19 of whom were treatment-naïve; this arm advanced to the expansion phase. Median follow-up was 50.0 months. Patients experienced high frequencies of adverse events (AEs) including treatment-related AEs (100%), grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs (82%), and treatment-related AEs leading to discontinuation (39%). Investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) was 55% (18/33) and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.7 months. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached.Arm N + P enrolled 20 patients, all had ≥1 prior systemic therapy; this arm was closed due to dose-limiting toxicities and did not proceed to expansion. Median follow-up was 27.1 months. Patients treated with N + P experienced high frequencies of AEs including treatment-related AEs (100%), grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs (70%), and treatment-related AEs leading to discontinuation (25%). Investigator-assessed ORR was 45% (9/20) and median PFS was 7.2 months. Median OS was 27.9 months.ConclusionsThe addition of standard doses of sunitinib or pazopanib to nivolumab resulted in a high incidence of high-grade toxicities limiting future development of either combination regimen. While there was no adverse impact on response and the OS outcome was notable, the findings suggest that the success of combination regimens based on immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic drugs may be dependent on careful selection of the antiangiogenic component and dose.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01472081. Registered 16 November 2011.

A multicenter, open-label, phase II trial of S-1 plus carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease

ObjectivesThe clinical benefit of chemotherapy and the appropriate regimen for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) remain unclear. To fulfill this unmet medical need, we conducted a phase II study to elucidate the efficacy of S-1 in combination with carboplatin (CBDCA) in NSCLC patients with ILD. Materials and methodsA total of 33 advanced or recurrent NSCLC patients with ILD were prospectively enrolled in this multicenter, open-label, phase II study. Every 4 weeks, CBDCA at a dose of AUC 5 on day 1 and S-1 at a dose of 80 mg/m2 daily for 14 days were administered. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed objective response rate. ResultsThe median age at initiating chemotherapy was 70. Sixteen patients (48.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma histology. With respect to the types of ILD, the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern was dominant (66.7%). The median number of cycles administered was 3, and the overall response rate and disease control rate were 33.3% and 78.8%, respectively. The median progression-free survival, the median survival time and the 1-year survival rate were 4.8 months, 12.8 months and 51.4%, respectively. Acute exacerbation of ILD caused by chemotherapy was noted in 2 patients (6.1%). ConclusionThis is the first prospective study designed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific chemotherapeutic regimen as the primary endpoint in patients with advanced NSCLC with ILD. The combination of S-1 with CBDCA may be a treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients with ILD (The clinical trial registration number: UMIN000011046).

CheckMate-032 Study: Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab and Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic Esophagogastric Cancer

PurposeMetastatic esophagogastric cancer treatments after failure of second-line chemotherapy are limited. Nivolumab demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) versus placebo in Asian patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancers. We assessed the safety and efficacy of nivolumab and nivolumab plus ipilimumab in Western patients with chemotherapy-refractory esophagogastric cancers.Patients and MethodsPatients with locally advanced or metastatic chemotherapy–refractory gastric, esophageal, or gastroesophageal junction cancer from centers in the United States and Europe received nivolumab or nivolumab plus ipilimumab. The primary end point was objective response rate. The association of tumor programmed death-ligand 1 status with response and survival was also evaluated.ResultsOf 160 treated patients (59 with nivolumab 3 mg/kg, 49 with nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg, 52 with nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg), 79% had received two or more prior therapies. At the data cutoff, investigator-assessed objective response rates were 12% (95% CI, 5% to 23%), 24% (95% CI, 13% to 39%), and 8% (95% CI, 2% to 19%) in the three groups, respectively. Responses were observed regardless of tumor programmed death-ligand 1 status. With a median follow-up of 28, 24, and 22 months across the three groups, 12-month progression-free survival rates were 8%, 17%, and 10%, respectively; 12-month OS rates were 39%, 35%, and 24%, respectively. Treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 17%, 47%, and 27% of patients in the three groups, respectively.ConclusionNivolumab and nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated clinically meaningful antitumor activity, durable responses, encouraging long-term OS, and a manageable safety profile in patients with chemotherapy-refractory esophagogastric cancer. Phase III studies evaluating nivolumab or nivolumab plus ipilimumab in earlier lines of therapy for esophagogastric cancers are underway.

A randomized phase 2 study of durvalumab monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): ALPS study.

217 Background: Durvalumab (D) and tremelimumab (T), monoclonal antibodies against PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoints, have shown efficacy as monotherapy/combination therapy in multiple cancer types. Herein, we report a randomized phase 2 study to evaluate efficacy and safety of D monotherapy with or without T (D+T) in previously treated mPDAC. Methods: Part A was a lead-in safety and signal-seeking study with plans to expand to Part B as a nonrandomized or randomized controlled study pending efficacy signal. Eligible pts had progressive disease (PD) following front-line 5-FU- or gemcitabine-based therapy. In Part A, pts were randomized to D (1.5 g IV Q4W) or D+T (D 1.5 g IV + T 75 mg IV Q4W × 4 doses → D 1.5 g IV Q4W) for up to 12 months (mo) or until confirmed PD or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate per RECIST 1.1. Results: In Part A, 65 pts were randomized to D (n = 33) or D+T (n = 32). Due to a pretreatment death, 64 pts received therapy. Eleven pts (34.4%) in D+T and 10 (31.3%) in D had treatment-related adverse events (trAEs); 7 (22%) in D+T and 2 (6%) in D had grade ≥3 trAEs. Common trAEs: fatigue (12.5%), diarrhea (12.5%), and hypothyroidism (9.4%) in D+T; fatigue (9.4%), diarrhea (6.3%), and pruritus (6.3%) in D. Grade ≥3 trAEs were diarrhea (9.4%), fatigue (6.3%) in D+T and ascites (3.1%), hepatitis (3.1%), and increased lipase (3.1%) in D. In D+T, 3 (9.4%) pts and 1 (3.1%) in D discontinued therapy due to trAEs. No trAEs resulted in death. In D+T, 1 (3.1%) pt had a durable confirmed partial response (PR) &gt; 12 mo and disease control rate (DCR) was 9.4%. In D, 2 (6.1%) pts had unconfirmed PRs, and the DCR was 6.1%. Median PFS in both arms was 1.5 mo, and median OS was 3.1 mo in D+T and 3.6 mo in D. Biomarker analyses (tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 and microsatellite status) are currently being evaluated. Conclusions: Typical safety profiles were observed for D or D+T in mPDAC. Part B was not enrolled as the threshold for efficacy was not met in Part A. D and D+T had modest activity in second-line non-selected mPDAC, underpinning the need for multimodal immune-based combinations to overcome intrinsic resistance in this disease. Clinical trial information: NCT02558894.

Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Symptoms in Patients with Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results from the Phase II GIBB Study of the Combination of Obinutuzumab and Bendamustine

Introduction: Maintenance and/or improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). GIBB (NCT02320487) is an ongoing, open-label, single-arm Phase II study of the combination of obinutuzumab (GA101; G) and bendamustine (B) (BG) in patients with previously untreated CLL. A previous report from the GIBB study demonstrated an investigator-assessed objective response rate of 89.2%, a complete response rate of 49.0%, and no unexpected safety signals with BG (Sharman et al. ASCO 2017). Here, we present the HRQoL data from GIBB.Methods: In the GIBB trial, patients received BG by intravenous infusion over six 28-day cycles: obinutuzumab 100mg on Day (D)1, 900mg on D2, and 1000mg on D8 and D15 of Cycle 1, then 1000mg on D1 of Cycles 2-6; B 90mg/m2 on D2-3 of Cycle 1, and on D1-2 of Cycles 2-6. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life - Core (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire includes a global health status measure, 5 functional scales (physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and role functioning), 8 symptom scales/items (fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, and diarrhea), and an item on financial difficulties (Aaronson et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993). The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 16 (QLQ-CLL16) is a 16-item module, specific to CLL, containing 4 multi-item scales (fatigue, treatment side effects, disease symptoms, and infection) and 2 single items (social activities and future health worries; EORTC website, accessed July 25, 2017). Both questionnaires were completed by patients on D1 of Cycles 1 (baseline), 3, and 6, at the end of induction treatment (defined as +28 days from D1 of Cycle 6 or early treatment termination visit), at the response visit (defined as 2-3 months after the end of induction treatment, for all patients who received study treatment and had not experienced disease progression), and every 3 months thereafter at follow-up visits. HRQoL scores were linear transformed to a 0-100 point scale. Mean baseline scores and mean score changes at each visit were evaluated. A threshold of ≥10-point change in score represents a clinically meaningful difference.Results: Of 102 patients enrolled in the trial, 98 completed a questionnaire at baseline and at least one other questionnaire during a follow-up visit. Questionnaire completion rates were 86.7%, 77.6%, 80.6%, and 86.7% at Cycles 3, 6, at the end of induction treatment, and at the response visit, respectively. Median age was 61 years and 68.4% of patients were male. According to the EORTC QLQ-C30 (Figure 1), clinically meaningful improvements were observed for global health status at the response visit, and for role functioning at the end of induction treatment and at the response visit. A trend was observed for improvement in emotional functioning. The greatest improvement in HRQoL score was observed for fatigue (mean baseline score: 37.64), with mean changes from baseline of −4.01, −5.48, −11.67, and −16.34 at Cycles 3, 6, at the end of induction treatment, and at the response visit, respectively. Improvements were also observed for insomnia (mean baseline score: 33.33), with mean changes from baseline of −6.59, −9.09, −9.7, and −10.98, respectively. There was no worsening in other patient-reported symptoms or functional status over time. Similarly, with the EORTC QLQ-CLL16 (Figure 2), clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms were observed for fatigue, disease symptoms, and future health worries during treatment, at the end of induction treatment and/or at the response visit. The greatest change at the response visit was observed for fatigue (−21.23) and future health worries (−20.24). A positive trend was also observed for improvements in the social activities scale.Conclusions: We previously reported that BG is an effective regimen for first-line treatment of CLL with no unexpected safety signals. In addition, the HRQoL data from the GIBB trial suggest that BG treatment improves patient HRQoL. Several clinically meaningful improvements were observed in HRQoL, including global health status, functioning, symptoms, and future health worries at the time of the response visit. [Display omitted] DisclosuresSharman:Acerta: Consultancy, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: GIBB is sponsored by Genentech Inc. Third-party editorial support, under the direction of Anthony Masaquel, was provided by Lynda McEvoy of Gardiner-Caldwell Communications, and was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Yimer:Juno pharma: Equity Ownership; Bellucum Pharma: Equity Ownership. Babu:Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy. Li:Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mun:Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Trask:Genentech: Employment, Other: stock. Masaquel:Genentech Inc.: Employment, Other: I Receive Roche stock options. Reyes:Genentech Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

FDA Approval Summary: Rucaparib for the Treatment of Patients with Deleterious BRCA Mutation-Associated Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

On December 19, 2016, the FDA granted accelerated approval to rucaparib (RUBRACA; Clovis Oncology, Inc.) for the treatment of patients with deleterious BRCA mutation (germline and/or somatic)-associated advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with two or more chemotherapies. The FDA also approved the FoundationFocus CDx BRCA test (Foundation Medicine, Inc.), the first next-generation sequencing-based companion diagnostic, for identifying patients with advanced ovarian cancer eligible for treatment with rucaparib based on detection of deleterious BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutations in tumor tissue. Rucaparib's approval was based primarily on efficacy data from 106 patients with BRCA mutation-associated ovarian cancer who had prior treatment with two or more chemotherapies and safety data from 377 patients with ovarian cancer treated with rucaparib 600 mg orally twice daily on two open-label, single-arm trials. Investigator-assessed objective response rate was 54% [57/106; 95% confidence interval (CI), 44-64], and median duration of response was 9.2 months (95% CI, 6.6-11.7). The approved companion diagnostic verified tumor BRCA mutation status retrospectively in 96% (64/67) of patients. Common adverse reactions (≥20%) to rucaparib were nausea, fatigue, vomiting, anemia, abdominal pain, dysgeusia, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, and dyspnea. This article summarizes the FDA review and data supporting rucaparib's accelerated approval. Clin Cancer Res; 23(23); 7165-70. ©2017 AACRSee related commentary by Kohn et al., p. 7155.

18F-FDG PET/CT response in a phase 1/2 trial of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer

BackgroundPositron emission tomography (PET) is poised to become a useful imaging modality in staging and evaluating therapeutic responses in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). This analysis from a phase 1/2 study examined the utility of early PET imaging in patients with mPC treated with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine.MethodsTumors were measured by [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (CT) in patients who received nab-paclitaxel 100 (n = 13), 125 (n = 38), or 150 (n = 1) mg/m2 plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Lesion metabolic activity was evaluated at baseline and 6 and 12 weeks postbaseline.ResultsFifty-two patients had baseline and ≥1 follow-up PET scan. The median maximum standardized uptake values per pancreatic lesion in the nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 and 125 mg/m2 cohorts were 5.1 and 6.5, respectively. Among patients who had a metabolic response by PET, those who received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 had a 4-month survival advantage over those who received 100 mg/m2. All patients in the nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 cohort experienced an early complete metabolic response (CMR; 34%) or partial metabolic response (PMR; 66%). In the nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 cohort, investigator-assessed objective response rates were 77% and 44% among patients with a CMR and PMR, respectively, with no correlation between PET and CT response (Spearman rs = 0.22; P = 0.193). Patients in the nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 cohort with a CMR experienced a significantly longer overall survival vs those with a PMR (median, 23.0 vs 11.2 months; P = 0.011), and a significant correlation was found between best percentage change in tumor burden by PET and survival: for each 1% decrease in PET score, the risk of death decreased by 2%.ConclusionsThe majority of primary pancreatic tumors and their metastases were PET avid, and PET effectively measured changes in tumor metabolic activity at 6 and 12 weeks. These results support the antitumor activity of nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 for treating mPC and the utility of PET for measuring treatment response. Treatment response by PET analysis may be considered when evaluating investigational agents in mPC.Trial registrationNCT00398086.

Final results of the large-scale multinational trial PROFILE 1005: efficacy and safety of crizotinib in previously treated patients with advanced/metastatic ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer

PurposeCrizotinib is a potent, orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report final results from PROFILE 1005, the largest clinical trial to date for an ALK inhibitor in ALK-positive NSCLC.Patients and methodsPROFILE 1005 (NCT00932451) was a multicenter, single-arm phase 2 trial of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of crizotinib (250 mg twice daily; 3 week continuous treatment cycles) in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC after failure of ≥1 lines of systemic treatment for locally advanced/metastatic disease. Patients’ tumour ALK status was initially determined by a central laboratory until a protocol amendment permitted enrolment of patients based on locally determined ALK status. Co-primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours V.1.1 and adverse events (AEs). Cancer-specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were also assessed using the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and its lung cancer module QLQ-LC13.Results1069 patients were enrolled; 1066 received crizotinib. The as-treated population comprised 908 and 158 patients, in whom tumour positive ALK-status was determined centrally (± locally) or locally only, respectively. At baseline, a majority of patients were <65 years (84%), 66% were never smokers and 46% were Asian. Derived investigator-assessed ORR was 54% (95% CI 51 to 57) and 41% (95% CI 33 to 49) in the central-testing and local-testing subgroups, respectively. The most common treatment-related AEs in the overall population (any grade) were vision disorder (58%), nausea (51%), diarrhoea (47%) and vomiting (47%). PRO scores demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in lung cancer symptoms and global quality of life.ConclusionThe efficacy, safety and PRO profiles of crizotinib in this cohort of 1066 patients with ALK-positive NSCLC are consistent with previous reports.Trial registration numberPhase 2 trial (NCT00932451); Results.