Thomas, Sachdev

Abstract The phase 1/2 Intergroup study E4412 investigated checkpoint blockade with nivolumab (Nivo) and ipilimumab (Ipi) combined with the CD30 targeting antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma. A total of 147 patients aged ≥12 years were randomized between BV/Nivo and BV/Ipi/Nivo; 132 patients were included in the primary efficacy analysis. The complete response (CR) rate, was 64.7% (52.2, 75.9) for BV/Nivo and 70.3% (57.6, 81.1) for BV/Ipi/Nivo (1-sided P = .29). The median survival follow-up was 38.0 months (interquartile range, 32.6-48.1). Progression-free survival (PFS) did not significantly differ between the 2 arms (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78, confidence interval [CI], 0.39-1.57; 1-sided P = .24). Treatment-related grade 3+ toxicities in the adult cohort, excluding rash, were similar between both arms (38.5% BV/Nivo and 39.3% BV/Ipi/Nivo); there was a higher frequency of grade 3 rash with BV/Ipi/Nivo (24.6%) compared with BV/Nivo (9.2%). We compared PFS by stem cell transplantation (SCT) status in a planned before hoc comparison; 58 patients received SCT, and 36-month PFS (from SCT) was >90% for both arms. Sixty-six patients were progression free after the first scan and did not undergo SCT. The 36-month PFS was 73.0% (54.5, 85.0) for BV/Ipi/Nivo compared with 45.8% (26.3, 63.4) for BV/Nivo (HR, 0.45; CI, 0.19-1.08; 1-sided P = .03). The study did not meet its primary end point of superior CR rate for the triplet, but it supports the use of checkpoint antibody-drug conjugate induction prior to auto SCT, and there is an intriguing signal of disease control for patients wishing to defer or avoid SCT with the triplet of BV/Ipi/Nivo. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01896999.

Background: Relapsed/refractory (R/R) Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) remains a significant clinical challenge. We hypothesized that using immune checkpoint blockade to activate the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, and concurrently targeting tumor cells with the CD30 targeting antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) could overcome tumor resistance. E4412 is an intergroup Phase 1/2 ECOG-ACRIN sponsored study of the combinations of BV, nivolumab (N), and ipilimumab (I) in patients with R/R cHL. Here we present the efficacy and safety data on the full adult cohort of patients treated in Phase 2 randomized between BV/N and BV/N/I. Methods: Patients with confirmed R/R cHL were randomized between the doublet of BV/N with BV 1.8mg/kg and N 3mg/kg and BV/N/I with I 1mg/kg. BV and N were administered every 3 weeks, and I every 12 weeks for up to 1 year for BV and up to 2 years for N and I. Results: One hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled and treated; 8 patients (4 from each arm) were excluded from efficacy analysis based on ineligibility. Patients were not heavily pretreated, 65% had one prior line of therapy and an additional 27% had two prior lines, and 8% had more than 2 prior lines. The median age was 34; 51% of patients were male. Sixteen patients had prior BV: 10 (BV/N arm) and 6 (BV/N/I). Response: One hundred eighteen patients are evaluable for response: 61 treated with BV/N and 57 with BV/N/I. With BV/N 37 of 61 (60.7%) of patients had a complete response (CR) compared to 38 of 57 (66.7%) with BV/N/I for a difference of 6.7% (p-value 0.31). Additionally, 17 (28%) with BV/N and 12 (21%) of patients treated with BN/N/I had a partial response (PR) for an overall response rate (ORR) of 88% in both arms. In a planned analysis of patients with prior treatment with BV the CR rate was 25% in BV/N arm (2 of 8) and 60% in BV/N/I arm (3 of 5). The median follow-up for progression free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR), and overall survival (OS) is 24.8 months and 33.7 months. The median PFS, duration of response and OS have not been reached for either arm with 24 months of follow-up ( Figure 1). In B/N 30 of 61 patients came off study to receive alternative treatments (primarily autologous stem cell transplant (SCT)) and in BV/N/I 23 of 57 patients did. Safety: Table 1 shows treatment-related Grade 3+ toxicity occurring in > 1 patient and adverse events (AE) of special interest. All 126 patients (118 eligible and 8 ineligible) are evaluable for safety. The rate of Grade 3+ treatment related toxicity is 43% (28/65) and 52% (32/61) for BV/N and BV/N/I, respectively. However, when rash is excluded the rate of treatment related toxicities is similar between the two arms 38.5% vs 39.3%. There was no grade 4 rash, and the rash was treatable in all cases with topical or oral steroids. There were no Grade 5 toxicities in either arm. Conclusion: In this randomized Phase 2 study comparing BV/N vs. BV/ N/I the difference in CR rate of 6.7% between the doublet and the triplet was not statistically significant. Additionally, the triplet had more grade 3 rash than the doublet, there was otherwise no significant difference in grade 3 or greater toxicity between the two arms. With a median follow-up of 24 months the PFS and DOR have not been reached for either arm, suggesting excellent disease control from both regimens. Differences in response for BV pre-treated patients between the two arms is intriguing especially as more patients are treated with BV in the frontline, but the sample size is too small to draw firm conclusions. Correlative studies are underway to elucidate a response vs. resistance signature, and biological understanding of differential benefit.

8037 Background: Advances in the treatment of MM have greatly improved clinical outcomes for patients (pts). SPM occurrence has been observed in early and late stage MM as well as with increasing age. US SEER Cancer Registry reports a background incidence rate of SPM 2.1/100 person-yrs (PY) among persons ≥ 65 yrs of age. However, incidence of SPM in MM pts and the relationship to therapy still warrants further exploration. Methods: Connect MM is a US-based observational registry designed to characterize pts with newly diagnosed MM from 266 US sites. Initiated in Sep 2009, patient data were collected at baseline and each subsequent quarter with a standardized form. On Dec 14, 2011, Connect MM reached full enrollment at 1,500 pts. Results: As of Jan 13, 2012, preliminary retrospective SPM data is available for 1015 pts. Median age was 67 yrs, 56.8% male, and median follow-up was 10.6 mo (0.03-24.9 mo). 12 pts (7 male) with median age of 68.5 yrs developed SPM. Median time to SPM was 8.5 mo (0.8-17.7 mo) after treatment initiation. 11 invasive SPM were observed - 4 hematological (heme): 1 AML, 1 MDS, 1 CMML and 1 DLBCL, and 7 solid: 2 melanoma skin, 1 bronchus, 1 breast, 1 prostate, 1 tonsil, and 1 gastric carcinoid. Also, 1 pt had non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), and 1 pt with invasive skin cancer also had NMSC. Of the 4 pts developing heme SPM, 3 had bortezomib (BORT), 1 had thalidomide (THAL), 1 had lenalidomide (LEN), 2 had melphalan (MEL), and all 4 pts had steroids. Of the 7 pts who developed solid tumor SPM, 5 had BORT, 5 had LEN, 2 had doxorubicin, 1 had MEL, 5 had steroids, 1 had irradiation, and 1 had not received MM treatment. 2 pts with prior history of invasive malignancy developed solid tumor SPM (1 pt also developed NMSC).1 pt who received irradiation developed NMSC. Early overall incidence of invasive SPM was 1.21/100 PY (95% CI 0.60, 2.16) for all pts and 1.20/100 PY (95% CI 0.44,2.62) for pts ≥ 65 yrs of age. Conclusions: This preliminary analysis shows that SPM occurred at an expected rate in this disease specific registry of patients with NDMM and appeared to occur irrespective of MM treatment administered. Incidence rates of SPM may increase over time as patients receive transplantation and alkylators. Prospective observation will continue.

e18556 Background: Studies in the United States (US) have identified variation in incidence and survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients of different races, and noted that MM is the most common hematologic cancer among African Americans. This analysis evaluated whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients in the US varies by race as they initiate treatment having been newly diagnosed with active, symptomatic MM. Methods: Data were collected in Connect MM, a prospective US observational registry begun in September 2009. Data on patient demographics and clinical characteristics were provided by clinicians. HRQOL was reported by patients at enrollment within 2 months of diagnosis. Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), EQ-5D, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM). Mean reported scores for BPI, EQ-5D and FACT-MM were analyzed by patient race. Statistical significance was ascertained by ANOVA using SAS 9.1. Results: Baseline HRQOL data were reported by 1144 patients (enrolled in 228 centers) of whom 82% were White, 13% Black, and 6% Other race. The cohorts did not differ statistically by ECOG status or by multiple myeloma stage (assessed by either the International Staging System or the Durie and Salmon system). Compared to non-Blacks, Black patients reported less anxiety/depression on the EQ-5D (p=0.030) and better emotional well-being on the FACT-MM (p=0.003). No other statistically significant differences were noted between cohorts on the BPI, other EQ-5D domains (mobility, self care, usual activities, pain/discomfort), or other FACT-MM domains (physical, social/family, functional, and MM-specific considerations). Conclusions: Initial results from the Connect MM Registry indicate that baseline HRQOL prior to initiation of treatment may vary by patient race with respect to emotional well-being, and specifically anxiety/depression. These results serve as a baseline reference for future analyses. As patients in the Connect MM Registry proceed through therapy, analyses should be conducted of patients by race, among other characteristics and factors, to determine whether it may be associated with subsequent clinical outcomes and HRQOL over time.

7555 Background: In a retrospective exploratory analysis of E4599, patients (pts) > 70 yo had a higher frequency of and more severe toxicities without apparent survival benefit from the addition of B to C+paclitaxel. We hypothesized that in this pt population, B will have better safety and efficacy profile when used in combination with C+P. Methods: Pts >/= 70 yo with previously untreated stage IIIB/IV (TNM 6th ed) nonsquamous NSCLC, ECOG PS 0-1, measurable disease and adequate organ function were eligible. C at AUC 6, P at 500 mg/m2 and B at 15 mg/kg were administered on day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 6 cycles followed by maintenance P+B in patients with CR, PR or SD. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. The treatment would be considered promising based on a single arm one-stage binomial design if 34 or more successes out of 55 patients were observed. This design had an exact significance level of 0.05 at 93% power to detect a true success rate of at least 70%. Polymorphisms in VEGFA, FPGS, GGH, SLC19A1 and TYMS in germline DNA were correlated with treatment outcome. Results: 58 eligible pts were enrolled; 29 males/29 females. Median age was 75. Median treatment cycles received was 6. Grade 3 or higher adverse events (AE) were reported in 49 (85%) pts. There were no treatment-related deaths. The most common grade 3/4 AEs(regardless of attribution) were hypertension (10%), fatigue (28%), dehydration (9%), neutropenia (43%) and thrombocytopenia (21%). There were 3 (5%) grade 3/4 hemorrhagic events. 8 (14%) had grade 4 neutropenia and 3 (5%) had grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Grade 3/4 ischemic/thromboembolic events occurred in 6 pts (10%). Thirty-four out of the first 54 (63%, 95% CI: 48.7-75.7%) evaluable pts met the primary endpoint (4 pts were lost to follow-up prior to 6 months). The confirmed ORR was 37.9% (95% CI: 25.5-51.6%). Median time to treatment failure was 4.8 months (95% CI: 3.9-6.4). Median PFS was 7.1 months (95% CI: 5.9-11.7), median OS was 13.7 months (95% CI: 9.4-15.7). Results of SNP analysis will be presented. Conclusions: C+P+B followed by maintenance P+B is an active and tolerable first-line regimen for elderly patients with good PS.

7073 Background: In preclinical studies, combinations of bortezomib and RT result in synergistic tumor killing (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2007;59:207-15). Our group reported the results from the phase I portion of this study previously (J Clin Oncol. 200;28 (suppl; abstr 7085)). Based on these data, we undertook a phase II study of bortezomib in combination with paclitaxel/CBCDA and RT. Methods: Based on results from our previously reported phase I trial, systemic therapy included bortezomib (1.2 mg/m² IV days 1,4,8,11), paclitaxel (175 mg/m² IV day 2), and carboplatin (CBCDA; AUC=6 day 2) given every 3 weeks for 2 cycles. Thoracic radiotherapy (RT) included 60Gy/30 daily fractions starting day 1. The primary endpoint was the 12-month survival rate. If 41 or more of these 60 patients (68%) were alive at least 12 months after study entry, the trial would be deemed as positive and further study would be warranted. Results: 27 pts were enrolled to the phase II portion: M/F=17/10; stage IIIA/IIIB=13/14; ECOG PS 0/1=9/18; and median age: 58 (range 43-79). 18 pts (67%) completed therapy per protocol. At a planned interim analysis, 23 of 26 evaluable patients (88.5%, 95% CI: 70-98%) survived for at least 6 months, which exceeded the boundary of 21 or more needed to continue to full accrual. This trial could have continued per protocol, but was closed early due to slow accrual. With a median follow-up of 15.0 months in the 17 patients still alive, the 12-month survival rate was 71% (95% CI: 49 – 85). The median OS was 19 months (95% CI: 11 – no upper). Grade 3 or higher adverse events (regardless of attribution) were reported in 22 (82%) patients. Grade 4/5 adverse events were reported in 15 (56%) patients. There was one grade 5 event (pneumonitis). The most common (5 or more patients) grade 3/4 adverse events were fatigue (22%), leukopenia (63%), neutropenia (67%), and thrombocytopenia (44%). Conclusions: The addition of bortezomib resulted in high levels of severe hematologic toxicity, but also demonstrated evidence of activity with a 12-month survival rate of 71% and a median OS of 19 months. Further testing of this regimen in a larger study appears warranted.

Purpose Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a dose-limiting toxicity of capecitabine for which no effective preventative treatment has been definitively demonstrated. This trial was conducted on the basis of preliminary data that a urea/lactic acid–based topical keratolytic agent (ULABTKA) may prevent HFS. Patients and Methods A randomized, double-blind phase III trial evaluated 137 patients receiving their first ever cycle of capecitabine at a dose of either 2,000 or 2,500 mg/m2 per day for 14 days. Patients were randomly assigned to a ULABTKA versus a placebo cream, which was applied to the hands and feet twice per day for 21 days after the start of capecitabine. Patients completed an HFS diary (HFSD) daily. HFS toxicity grade (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] v3.0) was also collected at baseline and at the end of each cycle. The primary end point was the incidence of moderate/severe HFS symptoms in the first treatment cycle, based on the patient-reported HFSD. Results The percentage of patients with moderate/severe HFS symptoms was not different between groups, being 13.6% in the ULABTKA arm and 10.2% in the placebo arm (P = .768 by Fisher's exact test). The odds ratio was 1.37 (95% CI, 0.37 to 5.76). Cycle 1 CTCAE skin toxicity was higher in the ULABTKA arm but not significantly so (33% v 27%; P = .82). No significant differences were observed in other toxicities between groups. Conclusion These data do not support the efficacy of a ULABTKA cream for preventing HFS symptoms in patients receiving capecitabine.

Purpose Risedronate prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to determine whether risedronate prevents bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Patients and Methods Premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer were treated with oral calcium 600 mg and vitamin D 400 U daily and randomly assigned to receive oral risedronate 35 mg weekly or placebo, with all these therapies beginning within a month of the start of chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy regimens included anthracyclines, taxanes, or cyclophosphamide. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at baseline and 1 year. The primary end point was the change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from baseline to 1 year. Results A total of 216 women enrolled; 170 women provided BMD data at 1 year. There was no difference in the mean change or percent change in LS BMD between groups, with a loss of 4.3% in the risedronate arm and 5.4% for placebo at 1 year (P = .18). Loss of BMD at the femoral neck and total hip were also similar between treatment groups. Risedronate was well tolerated, with no significant differences in adverse events compared with placebo, except that arthralgias and chest pain were worse in those receiving the placebos. Conclusion Risedronate did not prevent bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Purpose A randomized three-arm phase II study was undertaken to evaluate the optimum administration schedule of pemetrexed and gemcitabine in chemotherapy-naïve patients with non–small-cell lung cancer. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned to three schedules of pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2, separated by a 90-minute interval, on a 21-day cycle as follows: schedule A, pemetrexed followed by gemcitabine on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 8; schedule B, gemcitabine followed by pemetrexed on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 8; and schedule C, gemcitabine on day 1 and pemetrexed followed by gemcitabine on day 8. Results One hundred fifty-two eligible patients (schedule A, n = 59; schedule B, n = 31, and schedule C, n = 62) received a median of five (schedule A), two (schedule B), and four (schedule C) treatment cycles. Overall, 66% of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Common grade 3 and 4 nonhematologic toxicities were dyspnea (11%), fatigue (16%), and transaminase elevation (9%). Schedule A seemed less toxic compared with schedule C (grade 3 or 4 events: 86% v 94%, respectively; P = .19; grade 4 events: 39% v 48%, respectively; P = .30). Schedule B was closed at interim analysis for inferior efficacy. Schedule A, with a confirmed response rate of 31% (95% CI, 20% to 45%), met the protocol-defined efficacy criteria, whereas schedule C, with a confirmed response rate of 16.1% (95% CI, 11% to 34%), did not. Median survival time and time to progression were 11.4 and 4.4 months, respectively, with no observable difference between the arms. Conclusion Pemetrexed and gemcitabine administered as outlined for schedule A met the protocol-defined efficacy criteria, was less toxic compared with the other treatment schedules, and should be further evaluated.