Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in combination with dabrafenib and trametinib (DTP) for
BRAF
V600E-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer (
BRAF
m-ATC): A multicenter phase 2 trial.
6008 Background: ATC patients present with advanced, often surgically unresectable disease with historically dismal prognosis. Median PFS and OS of DT without pembrolizumab were 6.7 and 13.5 months, respectively, in the ROAR trial. Neoadjuvant DTP achieved locoregional control without radical surgery in a retrospective series of BRAF m-ATC patients, providing rationale to evaluate efficacy and safety in a phase 2 prospective trial. Methods: In this single-arm multicenter phase 2 trial, patients with BRAF m-ATC stage IVB/IVC were enrolled in 5 US centers. Following a 3-6 week run-in with D (150 mg BID) and T (2 mg daily), P (200 mg Q3W) was added, with restaging every three (21-day) cycles. Post-operatively, patients continued P (or DTP) with radiotherapy or transitioned directly to adjuvant DTP (up to 26 cycles). Primary endpoints included R0/R1 resection rate (historically 5%) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included RECIST 1.1 response after DTP and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Between 9/2021-1/2025, 42 patients were enrolled; 36 are included in the current analysis (3 not evaluable, 3 pending surgery) (Table). Patients received median 4 (range: 2-7) neoadjuvant DTP cycles, with 26 (72%) achieving radiographic PR/CR. 30 patients (83%) had surgery after neoadjuvant DTP, achieving R0/R1 resection in 29/30 (97%). Mean surgical morbidity score (0-4 scale, 4=unresectable) improved from 3.3 to 1.6 after DTP (p<0.01). Complete ATC pathologic response occurred in 20/30 patients (67%), while 10/30 (33%) had residual ATC in the surgical specimen. Postoperatively, 11/30 (37%) received adjuvant neck radiation, and 28/36 (78%) completed a median of 11 (range: 1-26) adjuvant DTP cycles. With median follow up 18 months, 15/36 (42%) patients died. Median OS was 20 months (95% CI: 12.6-NR); 1- and 2-year OS were 71% and 48%. Complete pathologic responders had better 2-year OS than those with residual ATC (69% vs. 22%, p=0.02). Median PFS was 13.9 months (95% CI, 7.5-NR); 1- and 2-year PFS were 57% and 36%. Grade 5 adverse events occurred in 8 patients (22%), including one possible (duodenal perforation), one probable (kidney injury with sepsis), and 6 unlikely/unrelated treatment-related deaths. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant DTP enables surgical resection in BRAF m-ATC compared with historical controls, and leads to improved PFS and OS. This approach should now be considered a standard of care for BRAF m-ATC. Clinical trial information: NCT04675710 . Total N=36 Age (y), median (range) 67 (46-86) Stage IVB/IVC, n (%) 15 (42%)/21 (58%) Best RECIST response neoadjuvant phase, n (%) CR 2 (6%) PR 24 (67%) SD 6 (17%) PD 4 (11%) Percent change target lesion diameter, mean (95% CI) -44% (-54%, -34%) Surgical morbidity score change, mean (95% CI) -1.7 (-2.1, -1.3)
Combination Targeted Therapy with Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib in Progressive, Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancers
Abstract Purpose: Lenvatinib, a potent multikinase inhibitor, improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with radioiodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer; however, most patients experience disease progression, warranting further therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in these patients. Patients and Methods: We enrolled patients with progressive, RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer who were either naïve to multikinase inhibitors (cohort 1) or who had progressed on lenvatinib (cohort 2). Patients received oral lenvatinib daily (cohort 1, 20 mg; cohort 2, dose at progression) and intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg) every 21 days. Results: In cohorts 1 and 2, 30 and 27 patients were enrolled, respectively. Adverse events were consistent with those observed in other cancers. In cohort 1, the confirmed overall response rate was 65.5%. There were no complete responses (primary endpoint). The 12- and 18-month PFS were 72.0% and 58.0%, respectively, and the median PFS was 26.8 months. In cohort 2, the confirmed overall response rate was 16% (primary endpoint), and the median PFS was 10.0 months (95% confidence interval, 7.0–17.9 months). Tumor histology, driver mutations, and immune-related biomarkers, including PD-L1 expression, thyroid-specific antibody levels, and CD8+ T-cell tumor infiltrate, did not correlate with response to therapy. Increased baseline peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were associated with a worse PFS in cohort 1. Conclusions: Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab may enhance the durability of lenvatinib monotherapy in lenvatinib-naïve patients. Furthermore, the addition of pembrolizumab may be a viable salvage therapy for patients who have progressed on lenvatinib.
Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination therapy in patients with radioiodine-refractory (RAIR), progressive differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC): Results of a multicenter phase II international thyroid oncology group trial.
6512 Background: Lenvatinib is an approved therapy for patients with RAIR DTC. While the overall response rate (ORR) is high, few patients achieve a complete response (CR) and most patients eventually have progressive disease (PD). Combination lenvatinib and pembrolizumab is being explored in many different cancers, and this combination has been approved for advanced endometrial carcinoma. Methods: Patients with RAIR DTC with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST v1.1) measurable PD (<14 months (mo) prior to registration) were enrolled in this single-arm multicenter phase II study. Patients were excluded if they had received previous VEGFR-directed multikinase therapy. The lenvatinib starting dose was 20 mg/day orally and pembrolizumab was 200mg IV every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was CR. ORR, progression-free survival (PFS) and safety graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 were secondary endpoints. Results: Thirty patients were enrolled. The median age was 62.5 years, and 53% of the patients were women. Seventy percent of patients had grade 3 adverse events (AEs) and 10 percent had grade 4 AEs. There were no treatment-related deaths. The most common > grade 3 AEs were hypertension (47%), weight loss (13%), maculopapular rash (13%), leukopenia (7%), diarrhea (7%) and oral mucositis (7%). Twenty-one patients (70%) required lenvatinib dose reduction. Of 29 evaluable patients, 18 (62%) had a partial response (PR) and 10 (35%) had stable disease (SD). The clinical benefit rate (ORR +SD) was 97%. Median time to tumor nadir was 7.4 mo (1.6-17.8 mo). Median PFS was not yet reached. The PFS at 12 months was 74%. Median time on therapy was 9.9 mo (3.2-18.9 mo). Fourteen patients are continuing therapy (7.6-18.9 mo). Six of these patients (43%) have not yet reached tumor size nadir. Three patients (10%) had > 80% target tumor shrinkage. Conclusions: Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab is reasonably tolerated in patients with RAIR DTC. To date, there have been no documented complete responses. Combination lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab therapy has a high ORR in patients with RAIR DTC. Continuation of this study will help determine the depth and length of the responses. Clinical trial information: NCT02973997 .