Abstract The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has exacted an enormous toll on healthcare systems worldwide. The cytokine storm that follows pulmonary infection is causally linked to respiratory compromise and mortality in the majority of patients. The sparsity of viable treatment options for this viral infection and the sequelae of pulmonary complications have fueled the quest for new therapeutic considerations. One such option, the long-forgotten idea of using low-dose radiation therapy, has recently found renewed interest in many academic centers. We outline the scientific and logistical rationale for consideration of this option and the mechanistic underpinnings of any potential therapeutic value, particularly as viewed from an immunological perspective. We also discuss the preliminary and/or published results of prospective trials examining low-dose radiation therapy for COVID-19.
Phase II trial of atezolizumab in BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: SWOG S1605 (NCT #02844816).
5022 Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for patients with BCG-unresponsive high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but many patients are unfit for surgery or elect bladder preservation. Based on the reported efficacy of atezolizumab in metastatic urothelial carcinoma and the known expression of PD-L1 in NMIBC after BCG therapy, this trial was designed to evaluate the activity of atezolizumab in BCG-unresponsive high risk NMIBC. Methods: This single arm phase II registration trial testing systemic atezolizumab (1200 mg IV) every 3 weeks for one year aimed to enroll 135 (70 CIS and 65 non-CIS) eligible patients with histologically proven BCG-unresponsive high risk NMIBC who were unfit for or declined RC. Here we report on the subset with CIS (with or without concomitant Ta/T1) among patients who received at least one protocol treatment. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (CR) rate at 6 months as defined by mandatory biopsy with a null hypothesis of 30% and alternative of 50% with a 1-sided alpha = 0.05 and 96% power. The 3 month CR rate, defined by cytology, cystoscopy and for-cause biopsy, is reported here as a secondary endpoint, in addition to safety. Results: Seventy-five eligible CIS patients were enrolled. Two received no treatment and are not evaluable. Of 73, median patient age was 73.4 years and median number of prior BCG doses was 12. Concomitant Ta/T1 tumor was found in 30 (41.1%) patients, including T1 disease in 16 (21.9%). A CR was observed in 30 (41.1%; 95% CI 29.7%, 53.2%) patients at 3 months and 19 (26.0%; 95% CI 16.5%, 37.6%) at 6 months. Any possibly or probably treatment-related adverse event (AE) was observed in 61 (83.6%) patients. The most frequent AEs were fatigue 36 (49.3%), pruritis 8 (11.0%), hypothyroidism 8 (11.0%), and nausea 8 (11.0%). Grade 3-5 AEs occurred in 9 (12.3%) patients and there was one treatment-related death (myasthenia gravis with respiratory failure and sepsis). Conclusion: The observed response to atezolizumab at 3 and 6 months in patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS was similar to that reported in recent similar trials and meets the benchmark for initial CR defined by the FDA guidance. This trial provided no new safety concerns. The duration of response will determine if this is a suitable treatment option for patients with BCG-unresponsive high risk CIS. Clinical trial information: 02844816 .
Alliance A151804: Establishment of a national biorepository to advance studies of immune-related adverse events.
TPS3154 Background: Immune-related Adverse Events (irAEs) are rare but serious sequelae of treatment with immuno-oncology (IO) therapeutics. These therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), have had transformative effects on outcomes for patients (pts) with advanced cancers. Although most pts tolerate the therapies well, a few experience irAEs ranging in severity up to life-threatening. These irAEs involve diverse organs including the heart, kidney, liver and lung, and gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, central and peripheral nervous systems. Because of the relatively low incidence and wide variety of irAEs due to various immunotherapies for multiple tumor types, establishment of an efficient centralized repository for acquisition and organized distribution of well-annotated biospecimens is vital for translational studies that improve understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and treatment of these significant toxicities. Methods: This multi-institutional study is open at sites across the National Clinical Trial Network to pts who received ≥ 1 IO therapeutics (e.g., CTLA-4, PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor) and experienced 1) ≥ 1 serious (grade 3–5) adverse events that are likely immune-related, 2) rare infection or 3) tumor hyperprogression. IrAEs of interest include myocarditis, colitis, hepatitis, nephritis, myositis, pneumonitis, meningitis/encephalitis, dermatitis, endocrinopathies and neuropathy. Pts may be on an NCTN or non-NCTN IO trial or be receiving standard-of-care therapy. Registration must occur ≤ 72 hours after confirmation of the irAE event. Clinical data are collected at registration, 1 month after registration and for up to 1 year. Biospecimens (tumor blocks, biopsies of inflammatory tissues used to establish irAE diagnosis, and serial blood samples for isolation of plasma, serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) are collected at 1-2 timepoints. Stool samples are collected from pts experiencing colitis. Imaging data are collected for pts with hyperprogression or pneumonitis. Goal accrual is 240 pts. Biospecimens and data will be made available to investigators following future submission and approval of proposals. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA196171; U10CA180820 (ECOG-ACRIN); U10CA180888 (SWOG); U10CA180868 (NRG); https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org; Clinical trial information: NCT04242095 .
The DIAL Study (Dual Immunomodulation in Aggressive Lymphoma): A randomized phase 2 study of CDX-1127 (varlilumab) in combination with nivolumab in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas (NCI 10089/NCT03038672).
TPS7570 Background: The DIAL study is testing the efficacy of dual immunomodulation in patients with advanced B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Developed by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP), the trial combines the use of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor (nivolumab) with an agonist of the CD27 receptor (varlilumab) in a randomized phase 2 design. CD27, a co-stimulatory receptor, regulates T cell activation through interaction with CD70. T cell exhaustion plays a major role in immune evasion in B-NHL. Varlilumab is an agonistic IgG1 monoclonal antibody that recognizes CD27 leading to prevention or reversal of exhaustion. Varlilumab also demonstrates direct anti-tumoral activity in xenograft models of human lymphoma cell lines via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Phase 1 data supports the safety and tolerability of single-agent varlilumab in advanced hematologic malignancies. We hypothesize that CD27 activation synergizes with PD-1 inhibition resulting in a superior anti-lymphoma effect compared to PD-1 blockade alone. The study will also evaluate the effect of these agents on tumor and immune cells using IHC, mass cytometry (CyTOF), multiplex ELISA, imaging mass cytometry, and whole exome sequencing. Methods: The trial is enrolling patients with advanced aggressive B-NHL. Standard inclusion criteria and prior treatment with at least 2 lines of standard therapy are required. Prior autologous stem cell transplant and/or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is allowed. Patients with active CNS disease are excluded. Eligible patients will be randomized to treatment with single-agent nivolumab (group 1) or dual immunotherapy with nivolumab and varlilumab. Group 1 is allowed to cross-over at the time of progression. Nivolumab will be administered intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (240 mg) for 4 months followed by monthly dosing thereafter (480 mg). Varlilumab will be given IV every 4 weeks (3 mg/kg). Response assessment will be done by PET-CT scan every 12 weeks. Primary outcome is overall response rate (ORR) according to the LYRIC criteria. The trial will enroll 48 patients per arm, allowing 80% power to detect at least 20% increase in ORR in the experimental arm (group 2) assuming a 25% ORR in the control arm (group 1). The trial is registered and open to participation to members of ETCTN and EDDOP. Clinical trial information: NCT03038672.
The DIAL Study (Dual Immunomodulation in Aggressive Lymphoma): A Randomized Phase 2 Study of CDX-1127 (Varlilumab) in Combination with Nivolumab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas (NCI 10089 / NCT03038672)
Background: The DIAL study is testing the efficacy of dual immunomodulation in patients with advanced aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Sponsored by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP), the trial combines the use of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor (nivolumab) with an agonist of the CD27 receptor (varlilumab) in a randomized phase 2 design. CD27, a co-stimulatory receptor, regulates T cell activation in the context of T cell receptor (TCR) engagement through interaction with CD70. T cell exhaustion plays a major role in immune evasion in B-NHL. Varlilumab is an agonistic IgG1 monoclonal antibody that recognizes CD27 leading to prevention or reversal of exhaustion in pre-clinical models. Varlilumab also demonstrates direct anti-tumoral activity in xenograft models of human lymphoma cell lines via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Phase 1 data supports the safety and tolerability of single-agent varlilumab in advanced hematologic malignancies (NCT01460134). We hypothesize that CD27 activation synergizes with PD-1 inhibition resulting in a superior anti-lymphoma effect compared to PD-1 blockade alone. The study will also evaluate the effect of these agents on tumor and immune cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC), mass cytometry (CyTOF), multiplex ELISA, imaging mass cytometry (IMC), and whole exome sequencing. Methods: The trial is enrolling patients with advanced aggressive B-NHL. Standard inclusion criteria and prior treatment with at least 2 lines of standard therapy are required. Prior autologous stem cell transplant and/or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is allowed. Patients with active CNS disease are excluded. Eligible patients are randomized to treatment with single-agent nivolumab (group 1) or dual immunotherapy with nivolumab and varlilumab. Group 1 is allowed to cross-over at the time of progression. Nivolumab will be administered intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (240 mg) for 4 months followed by monthly dosing thereafter (480 mg). Varlilumab will be given IV every 4 weeks (3 mg/kg). Response assessment will be done by PET-CT scan every 12 weeks. Primary outcome is overall response rate (ORR) according to the LYRIC criteria. The trial will enroll 48 patients per arm, allowing 80% power to detect at least 20% increase in ORR in the experimental arm (group 2) assuming a 25% ORR in the control arm (group 1). The trial is registered (NCT03038672) and open to participation to members of the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN) and Early Drug Development Opportunity Program (EDDOP). Figure Disclosures Tun: BMS: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mundi-pharma: Research Funding; DTRM Biopharma: Research Funding. Bartlett:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Autolus: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Kline:Merck: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding. Awan:Janssen: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Lazaryan:Kadmon: Consultancy. Ansell:Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding. Diefenbach:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Denovo: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; MEI: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millenium/Takeda: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding.
An Exploratory Analysis of Real-World End Points for Assessing Outcomes Among Immunotherapy-Treated Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
PURPOSE This pilot study examined the ability to operationalize the collection of real-world data to explore the potential use of real-world end points extracted from data from diverse health care data organizations and to assess how these relate to similar end points in clinical trials for immunotherapy-treated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Researchers from six organizations followed a common protocol using data from administrative claims and electronic health records to assess real-world end points, including overall survival (rwOS), time to next treatment, time to treatment discontinuation (rwTTD), time to progression, and progression-free survival, among patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer treated with programmed death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors in real-world settings. Data sets included from 269 to 6,924 patients who were treated between January 2011 and October 2017. Results from contributors were anonymized. RESULTS Correlations between real-world intermediate end points (rwTTD and time to next treatment) and rwOS were moderate to high (range, 0.6 to 0.9). rwTTD was the most consistent end points as treatment detail was available in all data sets. rwOS at 1 year post–programmed death-ligand 1 initiation ranged from 40% to 57%. In addition, rwOS as assessed via electronic health records and claims data fell within the range of median OS values observed in relevant clinical trials. Data sources had been used extensively for research with ongoing data curation to assure accuracy and practical completeness before the initiation of this research. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that real-world end points are generally consistent with each other and with outcomes observed in randomized clinical trials, which substantiates the potential validity of real-world data to support regulatory and payer decision making. Differences observed likely reflect true differences between real-world and protocol-driven practices.
THE DIAL STUDY (DUAL IMMUNOMODULATION IN AGGRESSIVE LYMPHOMA): RANDOMIZED PHASE 2 TRIAL OF VARLILUMAB PLUS NIVOLUMAB IN RELAPSED/REFRACTORY AGGRESSIVE B‐CELL LYMPHOMAS