Ipilimumab Therapy Research Articles

Impact of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Following Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Therapy for Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.

CheckMate 214 study revealed that nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy showed a strong and durable effect compared to sunitinib for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). Most of the patients underwent previous nephrectomy before systemic treatment. We retrospectively investigated the clinical outcomes of Japanese patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy following nivolumab plus ipilimumab for aRCC. Seventy-nine patients were treated with systemic therapy for aRCC between October 2018 and August 2021 at the Saitama Medical University International Medical Center. Ten of 61 patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy after the combined immunotherapy. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 24.3 and 15.9 months, respectively. The objective response rate was 50.8%; 9.8% of patients had a complete response, and the median time to objective response was 3.2 (range=1.3-19.7) months. The estimated percentage of patients who sustained an objective response at 30 months was 73.0%. Twenty-three patients (74%) in the complete or partial response (CR/PR) group, 11 patients (52%) in the stable disease (SD) group, and two patients (22%) in the progressive disease (PD) group had immune-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher, respectively. For all 10 patients, cytoreductive nephrectomy following nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment were completed safely. Three patients achieved a pathological complete response without viable cancer cells. Only two patients had residual lesions on images after deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy; the remaining patients achieved radiological CR. Cytoreductive nephrectomy after nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment could be useful in a limited number of cases, possibly resulting in curative nephrectomy due to the durable therapeutic effect of immunotherapy.

HLA Class I Downregulation in Progressing Metastases of Melanoma Patients Treated With Ipilimumab.

Characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying antitumor immune responses and immune escape mechanisms has resulted in the development of more effective immunotherapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. ICIs can induce durable responses in patients with advanced cancer in a wide range of cancer types, however, the majority of the patients fail to respond to this therapy or develop resistance in the course of the treatment. Information about the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance is limited. Although HLA class I molecules are crucial in the recognition of tumor antigens by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, only a few studies have investigated the role of their expression level on malignant cells in ICI resistance. To address this topic, utilizing immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) we analyzed HLA class I expression level in pre-treatment and post-treatment tumor samples from melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab. Twenty-nine metastases removed from six patients were available for the study, including 18 pre-treatment and 11 post-treatment lesions. Compared to metastases excised before ipilimumab therapy, post-treatment lesions displayed a significantly lower HLA class I expression level on melanoma cells; HLA class I downregulation was most marked in progressing metastases from nonresponding patients. We also evaluated the level of infiltration by CD8+ T cells and NK cells but did not find consistent changes between pre- and post-treatment samples. Our results indicate the potential role of HLA class I downregulation as a mechanism of ICI resistance.

Early dynamics of circulating tumor DNA predict clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

ObjectivesDetection of genomic alterations in circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid of peripheral blood can guide the selection of systemic therapy in cancer patients. The predictive significance of circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid in metastatic renal cell carcinoma remains unclear, especially for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.MethodsIn this study, we collected plasma samples before and 1 month after commencing nivolumab monotherapy or nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy from 14 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. We performed circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid genomic profiling in plasma cell‐free deoxyribonucleic acid by next‐generation sequencing using a commercially available pan‐cancer panel (Guardant360 CDx). Additionally, we also performed whole exome sequencing of tumor tissues and compared the concordance of genomic profiles with circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid.ResultsNine patients had circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid in pretreatment plasma samples with a total of 20 mutations (15 single nucleotide variants, three insertions/deletions, and two copy number amplification). VHL (30.0%) was the most frequently mutated gene, followed by TP53 (20.0%), and 45.0% of circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid mutations were concordant with somatic mutations in tumor tissues. Patients with decreasing circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid mutant allele frequency had better progression free survival when compared to those with increasing mutant allele frequency (P = 0.0441).ConclusionsOur findings revealed that early circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid dynamics can serve as a predictive biomarker for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients.

Predictive Impact of Early Changes in Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is reportedly associated with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) activity. However, in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the predictive value of CRP is unclear. In this study, we investigated the predictive impact of pretreatment CRP levels and early changes in CRP levels for the treatment of mRCC with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO-IPI) therapy. Forty-eight patients with mRCC treated with NIVO-IPI as a first-line therapy were retrospectively analyzed. First, patients were divided into 2 groups: initial CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/dL and < 1.0 mg/dL. Progression-free survival (PFS) was compared between the 2 groups. Second, based on the CRP change within the first 3 months of NIVO-IPI, patients were placed in the normal group (CRP remains < 1.0 mg/dL), normalized group (CRP decreased < 1.0 mg/dL), and non-normalized group (CRP remained or increased to ≥ 1.0 mg/dL). The predictive association between CRP change and PFS was evaluated. PFS was significantly lower in the high initial CRP group (n=24, 50%) compared to the normal CRP group (n=24, 50%) (median: 4.3 vs. 28.1 months, P=.03). As for the early CRP change, the normal (2.7 vs. 28.1, P=.0002) and normalized (2.7 vs. 11.0, P=.0094) groups showed significantly higher PFS, compared to the non-normalized group. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between normal, and normalized groups (P=.51). The objective response rate was higher in the normal (57.1% vs. 18.7%, P=.015) and normalized (81.8 vs. 18.7%, P=.0008) groups, compared to the non-normalized group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that normal [Hazard ratio (HR)=0.15, 95% Confidence interval (CI)=0.02-0.70, P=.026] and normalized (HR 0.21, 95% CI=0.05-0.73, P=.015) CRP showed significant association with PFS. In the NIVO-IPI therapy for mRCC, early changes in CRP could predict PFS. This data may be useful for the early detection of ineffective NIVO-IPI therapy and conversion to subsequent therapies.

Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders Following the Administration of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study.

BackgroundAlthough several metabolic and nutritional disorders (MNDs) have been reported in the recipients of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), these events have not been fully captured and comprehensively characterized in real-world population.ObjectivesTo provide complete metabolic and nutritional toxicity profiles after ICIs (single and combined) initiation through an integrated big database.MethodsReporting odds ratios (ROR) and information component (IC) based on statistical shrinkage transformation were utilized to perform disproportionality analysis using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System. Both ROR and IC were used to calculate disproportionality when compared with the whole database, but only ROR was used when comparison was made for different ICI strategies. Only when both the lower limits of 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ROR (ROR025) and IC (IC025) exceeded specified threshold values (1 and 0, respectively) was regarded as a signal.ResultsA total of 29,294,335 records were involved and 8,662 records were for MNDs in patients exposed to ICIs. Statistically significant association was detected between ICIs use and total MNDs (IC025/ROR025 = 1.06/2.19). For monotherapy, three ICI monotherapies (anti-PD-1, anti-PDL-1, and anti-CTLA-4) were all disproportionately associated with MNDs. Statistically significant differences in reporting frequencies also emerged when comparing anti-PD-1 with anti-PD-L1/anti-CTLA-4 monotherapy, with RORs of 1.11 (95%CI 1.01-1.21), and 1.35 (95%CI 1.23-1.48), respectively. Notably, combination therapy was associated with a higher reporting frequency of theses toxicities compared to monotherapy with a ROR of 1.56 (95%CI 1.48-1.64). Additionally, disproportionality analysis at High-level Group Term level highlighted eight broad entities of MNDs. Further disproportionality analysis at Preferred Term level indicated a wide range and varied strength of signals. For ICI monotherapy, nivolumab and pembrolizumab showed the broadest spectrum of MNDs. For combination therapy, a variety of signals were detected for nivolumab + ipilimumab therapy even comparable to two PD-1 monotherapies.ConclusionMetabolic and nutritional complications could be provoked by ICI monotherapy (especially anti-PD-1) and further reinforced by combination therapy. Clinicians and patients should be informed about these potential risks that might be encountered in real-world practice. Aforehand education and regular monitoring of related biochemical parameters (calcium, sodium, potassium, protein) are recommended to ensure better cancer survivorship.

Durable complete response to combination nivolumab and ipilimumab in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which promote or suppress the anti-tumor immune response, are becoming the mainstay of cancer treatment. In 2018, CheckMate 214 study showed a higher response rate with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy compared to conventional therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma. We report a case of complete response and durable response for two years to ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy in a patient with postoperative renal cancer recurrence that caused immune-related adverse events such as interstitial pneumonia and hepatotoxicity.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer with chronic kidney disease.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer with chronic kidney disease.

POSC162 Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Therapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Japan

This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of combination therapy of nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIV+IPI) for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), comparing with platinum-doublet chemotherapy in Japanese settings. A partitioned survival model was developed to predict costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in a NIV+IPI arm and a chemotherapy arm. Data on overall survival and progression-free survival was derived from the CheckMate 227 trial. Cost estimates were based on Japanese healthcare system perspective, by using real world data, JMDC claims database. Utilities were derived from published sources outside Japan. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of NIV+IPI therapy compared with chemotherapy was estimated. A subgroup analysis on the level of PD-L1 expression (≥1% or not) was conducted. In addition, deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the uncertainty in parameter settings. Compared with chemotherapy, NIV+IPI therapy incurred an additional cost of USD166,984 and conferred an additional 0.81 QALY, which resulted in an ICER of USD205,141/QALY gained. Contrary to prior expectations, the ICER of patients with a PD-L1 expression level ≥1% was higher than that of patients with a PD-L1 expression level <1% (USD241,734/QALY and USD129,288/QALY, respectively). Sensitivity analyses showed a relatively robust result that the ICERs remined higher than a Japanese price adjustment threshold of USD75,000/QALY over the full range of model parameters. The combination therapy of nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line therapy would not be cost-effective under a willingness-to-pay threshold of USD75,000/QALY. However, a better cost-effectiveness was found in the subgroup with a PD-L1 expression level <1%, which needs further research to elucidate the heterogeneity and specific biological mechanisms.

Efficacy and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Advanced Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis on Monotherapy Vs Combination Therapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved as cancer immunotherapeutic agents for advanced malignant melanoma (MM) in recent years, and nivolumab and ipilimumab are the most widely used ICIs either alone or in combination. However, their efficacy and safety between single and combined ICIs are not clear. This meta-analysis (MA) is aimed to update the efficacy and safety of ICIs by comparing monotherapy and combination therapy in the treatment of advanced MM.Method: We searched PubMed, Embase, EbscoHost and ClinicalTrials.gov for the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared the efficacy and safety of ICIs between a single ICI and combined ICIs. The outcomes analyzed included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and treatment-related adverse events (AEs). A fixed-effect or random-effects model was adopted depending on the study heterogeneity.Results: A total of nine RCTs were included in this MA. Regarding the efficacy, combined nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy showed statistically significant prolonged OS and PFS with HR 0.65, 95% CI [0.53, 0.79], p <0.0001 and HR 0.48, 95% CI [0.38, 0.60], p<0.0001 respectively. Combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab also showed statistically significant longer ORR than monotherapy; with RR 2.15, 95% CI [1.63, 2.84], p <0.00001. In terms of safety, the incidence of all AEs which include any AEs, high-grade, haematological, gastrointestinal, dermatological, pulmonary, liver and endocrine AEs were significantly lower with monotherapy (either nivolumab or ipilimumab) of ICI compared to combination ICI therapy with a p-value <0.00001 to 0.03.Conclusion: Efficacy of the combined nivolumab and ipilimumab was better than a single ICI, especially in the treatment of advanced MM. Although combination therapy showed better efficacy than monotherapy, monotherapy (either nivolumab or ipilimumab) was safer than combination therapy as it tended to decrease the incidence of most of the treatment-related AEs.

Results of combined nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy in patients with cancer

Introduction. The discovery of immune checkpoints and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) became a breakthrough in medical oncology. Currently a search for most effective and safe schemes of ICI therapy for different cancers is ongoing.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab in cancer patients in real-life clinical practice.Materials and methods. The study included 30 patients: 13 patients with melanoma, 10 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 7 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). All patients underwent 4 courses of combined immune therapy (melanoma - nivolumab 1 mg/kg + ipilimumab 3 mg/kg; RCC, CRC – nivolumab 3 mg/kg + ipilimumab 1 mg/kg once per 21 days). Nivolumab monotherapy was continued after the achievement of disease control. Objective tumor response was registered in cases of partial or complete tumor regression. Treatment response was determined using iRECIST criteria.Results. Treatment effect assessment was performed in 91 patients. Complete response (CR) was registered in 1 (5%) patient, partial response (PR) – in 3 (16%) patients, disease stabilization – in 8 (42%) patients, unconfirmed progression – in 7 (37%) patients. No cases of disease progression were registered. Thus, objective response rate was 21%; disease control was achieved in 63% of patients. The most significant immune-mediated adverse effects (imAEs) were gastric toxicity (20%), 1–2 grade fatigue (13%) and 2–3 grade hepatotoxicity (10%).Conclusions. Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy in patients with melanoma, CRC and RCC is associated with a high rate of disease control with acceptable toxicity profile.

Myocarditis as an immune-related adverse event following treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a case report

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors are new immunotherapy drugs globally used for many malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma. Myocarditis as an immune-related adverse event is rare but highly fatal, suggesting that its frequency may be higher than reported. This paper describes a case of myocarditis that developed asymptomatically following ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy for renal cell carcinoma.Case presentationA 71-year-old Asian man who presented to hospital with fever, fatigue, and weight loss of approximately 10 kg within 2 months was diagnosed with Xp.11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma. Computed tomography revealed multiple lung masses, mediastinal lymph node enlargement, and a level II tumor thrombus reaching the inferior vena cava (cT3bN0M1; International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium, poor risk). Ipilimumab/nivolumab combination therapy was started as induction therapy. The patient experienced acute interstitial nephritis as an immune-related adverse event after treatment initiation; however, a good response to steroid therapy was observed. The antitumor effect of the immunotherapy was notable. Although he experienced pulmonary embolism, it seemed asymptomatic and harmless; thus, a second infusion was introduced. From the eighth day, he demonstrated rapidly worsening cardiogenic shock with asymptomatic electrocardiographic changes and drastic drop in cardiac biomarkers, and a diagnosis of myocarditis as an immune-related adverse event was made. Although immediate methylprednisolone mini-pulse therapy followed by tapered prednisolone prevented mortality, extensive myocardial fibrosis with marked ejection fraction decline persisted as a sequela. Consequently, follow-up without treatment was instituted; however, much of the tumor response initially observed was maintained over several months.ConclusionPhysicians treating patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors should be aware of their potentially life-threatening cardiotoxic effects. This study emphasized the importance of a high index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and early intervention in patients who present with cardiac abnormalities and possible myocarditis after receiving immunotherapy.

Hypopituitarism in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy.

We investigated the incidence of hypopituitarism in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received ipilimumab and nivolumab (I-P) therapy and compared patient characteristics and survival rates between patients with hypopituitarism and those without. Twenty-two patients with mRCC who received I-P therapy as first-line treatment were the subjects of this retrospective study. The diagnosis of hypopituitarism was based on the hormone loading test. Hypopituitarism occurred in 41% (9/22) patients who received I-P therapy. Median time of diagnosis was 12weeks (IQR: 9.5-20). Clinical symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness or fever, were observed in 7 patients, while 2 patients had no clinical presentation. The following deficiency patterns were observed: isolated ACTH in 4 patients, ACTH and GH in 2 patients, ACTH and TSH in 2 patients and triple deficiency (ACTH, GH and TSH) in 1 patient. All patients with hypopituitarism were in the IMDC intermediate group, while 46% of those without hypopituitarism were in the IMDC intermediate group. Other patient characteristics were not different between the two groups. Object response rate was 33% (3/9) in patients with hypopituitarism and 23% (3/13) in those without (P=0.5954). Progression free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in those with hypopituitarism than those without (median: 24.7 vs. 4.5months, P=0.0008), while overall survival did not differ (P=0.136). Compared with the clinical trial, the incidence of hypopituitarism was higher than expected. Patients with hypopituitarism tended to have longer PFS, which may suggest that optimal management of hypopituitarism results in better prognosis.

Health Care Utilization and Costs Associated With Systemic First-Line Metastatic Melanoma Therapies in the United States.

US Food and Drug Administration approvals of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Our aim was to assess health care resource utilization and costs for patients with metastatic melanoma treated with systemic therapies in first line between January 2012 and December 2017. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic melanoma using MarketScan data. We included patients diagnosed with melanoma and secondary malignant neoplasm who used pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, ipilimumab plus nivolumab, BRAF-inhibitor (BRAF-i) plus MEK inhibitor (MEK-i), BRAF-i or MEK-i monotherapy, or chemotherapy in first line. We compared health care utilization and costs per patient per month (PPPM) using two-part and generalized linear models. We identified 1,870 patients, including 185 pembrolizumab, 103 nivolumab, 689 ipilimumab, 185 nivolumab plus ipilimumab, 214 BRAF-i plus MEK-i, 240 BRAF-i or MEK-i monotherapy, and 254 chemotherapy users. Highest PPPM rates of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits were observed in patients with ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy (adjusted difference v pembrolizumab [aDiff], 0.18, 0.12, and 0.88, respectively; all P < .001). Ipilimumab monotherapy users (aDiff, 0.07 and 0.93; all P < .001) and chemotherapy users (aDiff, 0.10 and 2.63; all P < .001) showed higher PPPM rates of hospitalizations and outpatient visits compared with pembrolizumab users, respectively. Utilization rates in nivolumab, BRAF-i plus MEK-i, and BRAF-i or MEK-i groups were similar to the pembrolizumab group. Highest PPPM total costs and drug-related costs were observed in the ipilimumab group ($80,139 US dollars [USD] and $70,051 USD; all P < .001), followed by the ipilimumab plus nivolumab ($71,689 USD and $56,217 USD; all P < .001) and the BRAF-i plus MEK-i group ($31,184 USD and $19,648 USD; all P < .001). PPPM costs in the nivolumab group were similar to the pembrolizumab group. Significant differences in health care resource utilization and costs were found across first-line metastatic melanoma regimens. Utilization rates were highest in patients using ipilimumab-containing therapies. High drug costs constituted a major fraction of total PPPM health care costs.

Tumor response in primary kidney lesions and metastatic lesions in nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma without prior nephrectomy: Preliminary results of a multi-institutional study.

Toshio Takagi and Tsunenori Kondo received honoraria from Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical. The other authors declare no conflict of interest. Table S1. Patient characteristics. Table S2. Profile of immune-related adverse reactions. Table S3. Tumor response across lesions. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

P-124 Nivolumab plus ipilimumab as neoadjuvant therapy for potentially resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (N+I) therapy has shown promising antitumor efficacy and safety for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after sorafenib therapy. This study aimed to explore whether N+I may improve the treatment efficacy of HCC patients who are potentially eligible for curative surgery (NCT03510871).

Prognostic Impact of Early Treatment Interruption of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Due to Immune-Related Adverse Events as First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multi-Institution Retrospective Study.

It remains unclear how early treatment interruption of nivolumab plus ipilimumab due to immune-related adverse events affects the outcome of previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). To investigate the prognostic impact of the early interruption of nivolumab plus ipilimumab, used as first-line therapy for mRCC. We retrospectively evaluated 59 intermediate- or poor-risk mRCC patients who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line therapy. Based on whether early treatment interruption was implemented within the initial four treatment cycles (i.e., 3 months) or not, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were compared. The prognostic association was further compared with that of 186 patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy. Twenty-three of the 59 patients (39%) experienced interruption of nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy. The patients with interruption had longer PFS (p = 0.0055), similar OS (p = 0.366), and likely higher ORR (p = 0.0660) than those without interruption. Of the patients treated with TKIs, 60 of 186 (32%) experienced interruption, with shorter PFS (p = 0.0121), similar OS (p = 0.378), and similar ORR (p = 0.738) than those without interruption. In the 23 patients with nivolumab plus ipilimumab interruption, high-dose corticosteroids were administered in seven patients (30%). PFS (p = 0.638), OS (p = 0.968), or ORR (p = 0.760) did not differ based on corticosteroid administration. Early treatment interruption, which exerted a negative effect for TKIs, was a preferable event for nivolumab plus ipilimumab when considering PFS. Furthermore, early administration of high-dose corticosteroids did not diminish the anti-tumor effect of nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Prognostic impact of immune-related adverse events in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab

ObjectivesEvidence regarding the prognostic impact of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains limited in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab as a first-line systemic therapy. Thus, we investigated the association between irAE development and oncological outcomes during nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 46 patients with mRCC who were treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab at our hospital and its affiliated institutions. The associations between irAE development and progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rates (ORRs) were assessed after treatment initiation. ResultsA total of 60 irAEs occurred in 33 patients (72%), with 24 grade ≥ 3 irAEs developed in 20 patients (43%). PFS was significantly longer in patients with irAEs than that in patients without irAEs (P < 0.0001); however, OS was not different (P = 0.571). Multivariable analysis further revealed that the development of irAEs was an independent predictor of a longer PFS (hazard ratio: 0.18, P = 0.0005). A landmark analysis for the initial four cycles of nivolumab plus ipilimumab administration also showed that PFS was significantly longer in patients with irAEs than that in patients without irAEs (P = 0.0386). The ORRs were also higher in patients with irAEs (P = 0.0064). Furthermore, in 22 patients (48%) who discontinued nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment, the 6-month PFS rate was 87%. ConclusionThis multi-institutional study showed that irAE development was significantly associated with PFS but not with OS in patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab as a first-line therapy. The development of irAEs may be used as a surrogate prognostic marker for PFS in this treatment regimen.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapies very frequently induce secondary adrenal insufficiency

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are potent therapeutic options for many types of advanced cancer. The expansion of ICIs use however has led to an increase in immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI) can be life-threatening especially in patients with delayed diagnosis. We retrospectively investigated secondary AI in ICI-treated patients. A total of 373 cancer patients treated with ICIs were included and evaluated. An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency was described in 13 patients. Among 24 patients with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy, 7 patients (29%) developed secondary AI in a median time of 8 weeks during the combination therapy and 2 of 15 patients (13%) developed isolated ACTH deficiency during maintenance nivolumab monotherapy following the combination therapy. More than half of the patients (4/7) with a combination therapy-induced multiple anterior hormone deficiencies was diagnosed as secondary AI based on regular ACTH and cortisol tests with slight subjective symptoms. Secondary AI can arise frequently and rapidly in cancer patients receiving a combination ICI therapy, and thus we speculate active surveillance of AI using regular ACTH and cortisol tests during the combination therapy might be useful for avoiding life-threatening conditions due to secondary AI.

Long-term real-world experience with ipilimumab and non-ipilimumab therapies in advanced melanoma: the IMAGE study

BackgroundIpilimumab has shown long-term overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced melanoma in clinical trials, but robust real-world evidence is lacking. We present long-term outcomes from the IMAGE study (NCT01511913) in patients receiving ipilimumab and/or non-ipilimumab (any approved treatment other than ipilimumab) systemic therapies.MethodsIMAGE was a multinational, prospective, observational study assessing adult patients with advanced melanoma treated with ipilimumab or non-ipilimumab systemic therapies between June 2012 and March 2015 with ≥3 years of follow-up. Adjusted OS curves based on multivariate Cox regression models included covariate effects. Safety and patient-reported outcomes were assessed.ResultsAmong 1356 patients, 1094 (81%) received ipilimumab and 262 (19%) received non-ipilimumab index therapy (systemic therapy [chemotherapy, anti–programmed death 1 antibodies, or BRAF ± MEK inhibitors], radiotherapy, and radiosurgery). In the overall population, median age was 64 years, 60% were male, 78% were from Europe, and 78% had received previous treatment for advanced melanoma. In the ipilimumab-treated cohort, 780 (71%) patients did not receive subsequent therapy (IPI-noOther) and 314 (29%) received subsequent non-ipilimumab therapy (IPI-Other) on study. In the non-ipilimumab–treated cohort, 205 (78%) patients remained on or received other subsequent non-ipilimumab therapy (Other-Other) and 57 (22%) received subsequent ipilimumab therapy (Other-IPI) on study. Among 1151 patients who received ipilimumab at any time during the study (IPI-noOther, IPI-Other, and Other-IPI), 296 (26%) reported CTCAE grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events, most occurring in year 1. Ipilimumab-treated and non-ipilimumab–treated patients who switched therapy (IPI-Other and Other-IPI) had longer OS than those who did not switch (IPI-noOther and Other-Other). Patients with prior therapy who did not switch therapy (IPI-noOther and Other-Other) showed similar OS. In treatment-naive patients, those in the IPI-noOther group tended to have longer OS than those in the Other-Other group. Patient-reported outcomes were similar between treatment cohorts.ConclusionsWith long-term follow-up (≥ 3 years), safety and OS in this real-world population of patients treated with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg were consistent with those reported in clinical trials. Patient-reported quality of life was maintained over the study period. OS analysis across both pretreated and treatment-naive patients suggested a beneficial role of ipilimumab early in treatment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01511913. Registered January 19, 2012 – Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01511913

Abstract #1004335: An Unusual Case of Rapidly Evolving Thyroidal Dysfunction from New Onset Antibody Negative Graves' Disease to Central Hypothyroidism Within Few Weeks of Starting Ipilimumab (Immune Check Point Inhibitor) Therapy

Immune check point inhibitors (ICPis) have become a common treatment for cancer. ICPis are associated with toxicities and endocrinopathies are among the most common and include thyroid dysfunction, hypophysitis, insulin deficient diabetes mellitus and primary adrenal insufficiency. Ipilimumab is anti-CTLA 4 monoclonal antibody. While destructive thyroiditis and hypothyroidism are the most common thyroid dysfunction induced by ICPis, autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves’disease) is rare although has been reported with ipilimumab but in both the cases thyroid receptor antibody (TRAB) was positive. Antibody negative Graves’disease have been reported but with anti-PD4/Nivolumab use only.We describe a case of antibody negative Graves’disease induced by ipilimumab therapy which rapidly progressed to central hypothyroidism due to hypophysitis.