PD-1/PD-L1 pathway as a target for cancer immunotherapy: Safety and clinical activity of BMS-936559, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, in patients with solid tumors.
2510 Background: Blocking the interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1), a co-inhibitory receptor expressed by activated T cells, and its ligand PD-L1 may enhance T-cell function. Here we describe the safety and activity from the first clinical study of BMS-936559 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, further validating the importance of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway as a target for cancer therapy. Methods: BMS-936559 was given Q2 wk IV in a 6-wk cycle at doses of 0.3−10.0 mg/kg during dose escalation and/or cohort expansion; pts could receive up to 16 cycles (48 doses). Results: As of August 1, 2011, 162 pts with melanoma (MEL, n=53), non-small-cell lung (NSCLC, n=50), colorectal (n=18), renal cell (RCC, n=17), ovarian (n=17), and pancreatic (n=7) cancer were treated. Median therapy duration was 11 wks (max 99 wks). Common related adverse events (rAEs; ≥5% pts) included fatigue, diarrhea, infusion reaction, arthralgia, rash, and pruritus. The incidence of grade 3-4 rAEs was 8.6%. AEs of special interest included hypothyroidism, hepatitis, sarcoidosis, endophthalmitis, and myasthenia gravis; there were no drug-related deaths. Clinical activity was observed in MEL, RCC, and NSCLC. Objective responses (ORs; RECIST 1.0) were observed in heavily pretreated pts. ORs were durable; among 16 pts with ORs, 7 had responses lasting ≥1 yr. Two other pts had ongoing ORs with durations of 2.3 and 8.5 mo at data lock. Several pts had prolonged stable disease. Some pts had a persistent reduction in overall tumor burden in the presence of new lesions but were not categorized as responders. In NSCLC, ORs were observed irrespective of histology. Conclusions: BMS-936559 was active and generally well tolerated in pts with NSCLC, RCC, and MEL. In conjunction with data from anti-PD-1/BMS-936558 trials, this study concurrently validates the importance of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway for cancer immunotherapy and supports further clinical development of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 directed therapy. [Table: see text]
Advanced pancreatic cancer: a multi-institutional trial with gemcitabine and thalidomide
Interim results of a randomized phase 2 study of docetaxel with ramucirumab versus docetaxel in second-line advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
295 Background: Patients (pts) with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) progressing after first-line chemotherapy have limited treatment options. Ramucirumab (Ram), a human VEGFR2-targeted mAb, has demonstrated clinical activity in several solid tumors. Preclinical testing supports a role for Ram-taxane combinations in UC. Study JCDC is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase 2 study of docetaxel (Doc) alone or combined with Ram or icrucumab (Icr) in locally advanced or metastatic platinum-resistant UC. We report on a planned interim analysis for Doc + Ram vs Doc; Icr results will be reported later. Methods: Eligible pts with advanced UC and ECOG PS 0-1 who relapsed ≤ 1 year from a platinum-regimen were randomized to receive Doc 75 mg/m2IV alone or with Ram 10mg/kg IV on Day 1 of repeating 21-day cycles. A sample size of 46 pts per arm enabled 71% power to demonstrate statistical significance of 4.5 mo (Doc + Ram) vs 3 mo (Doc) at a 1-sided α= 0.1. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint is investigator-assessed PFS with RECIST v1.1, analyzed by K-M methods. A planned interim analysis was performed after 75% of the PFS events. Results: 44 pts received Doc and 46 received Doc + Ram. Study arms were well matched with a mean age of 67 yr (29-84), and a 4:1 male to female ratio. 58.7% (Doc + Ram) vs 61.4% (Doc) had ECOG PS 1. 58.7% (Doc + Ram) vs 52.3% (Doc) had visceral metastases. Doc + Ram reduced the risk of disease progression, stratified HR = 0.388; 95% CI: 0.222, 0.677; log-rank p = 0.0005, improving median PFS (5.1 vs 2.4 mo). The ORR for Doc + Ram was 19.6 vs 4.5% for Doc (p= 0.0502), and the disease control rate was 67.4 vs 43.2%. OS maturity is pending. The most common adverse events in the Doc + Ram arm (all grades) were fatigue (80.4% Doc + Ram v 75.0% Doc), decreased appetite (54.3 v 43.2%), nausea (54.3 v 25.0%), and neuropathy (50.0 v 38.6%). Grade (G) ≥3 febrile neutropenia (19.6 v 11.4%), pneumonia (13 v 9.1%), hypertension (4.3 v 0%) were higher with Doc + Ram. One G3 hematuria was observed in each arm. Conclusions: Results support a statistically significant improvement in PFS for Doc + Ram in second-line UC. Final results are expected in 2015. Clinical trial information: NCT01282463.
Docetaxel As Monotherapy or Combined With Ramucirumab or Icrucumab in Second-Line Treatment for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: An Open-Label, Three-Arm, Randomized Controlled Phase II Trial
Purpose This trial assessed the efficacy and safety of docetaxel monotherapy or docetaxel in combination with ramucirumab (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antibody) or icrucumab (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 antibody) after progression during or within 12 months of platinum-based regimens for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 1 of a 3-week cycle (arm A), docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV plus ramucirumab 10 mg/kg IV on day 1 of a 3-week cycle (arm B), or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus icrucumab 12 mg/kg IV on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle (arm C). Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Results A total of 140 patients were randomly assigned and treated in arms A (n = 45), B (n = 46), or C (n = 49). PFS was significantly longer in arm B compared with arm A (median, 5.4 months; 95% CI, 3.1 to 6.9 months v 2.8 months; 95% CI, 1.9 to 3.6 months; stratified hazard ratio, 0.389; 95% CI, 0.235 to 0.643; P = .0002). Arm C did not experience improved PFS compared with arm A (1.6 months; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.9; stratified hazard ratio, 0.863; 95% CI, 0.550 to 1.357; P = .5053). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events (arms A, B, and C) were neutropenia (36%, 33%, and 39%), fatigue (13%, 30%, and 20%), febrile neutropenia (13%, 17%, and 6.1%), and anemia (6.7%, 13%, and 14%, respectively). Conclusion The addition of ramucirumab to docetaxel met the prespecified efficacy end point for prolonging PFS in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma receiving second-line treatment and warrants further investigation in the phase III setting.