Reply to: “Beyond Response Rates: Interpreting Long-Term Benefit in CheckMate 743” and “Beyond Statistical Significance: Methodological Fragility and Censoring Bias in the 5-Year Update of CheckMate 743”
Journal of Clinical Oncology | July 10, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available
Abstract Background Repotrectinib, a next-generation ROS1/TRK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for ROS1 fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer and NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors. Its side effects and safety management strategies require further characterization. Patients and Methods The safety profile of repotrectinib (treatment-emergent/related adverse events [TEAEs/TRAEs]) was established in patients who initiated treatment at the recommended dose (160 mg daily [QD] for 14 days, then 160 mg twice daily [BID]) across all cohorts of the global, multicenter phase 1/2 TRIDENT-1 study. AE management strategies were outlined. Results In 472 patients, the most common TRAEs (dizziness [58%] and dysgeusia [50%]) were likely TRK inhibition-related. Median relative dose intensity was 90%; 14% (n = 66/472) of patients did not increase their initial QD dose to BID (mostly due to CNS AEs). Rates of dizziness (median onset, 7 days) were similar in patients with/without baseline brain metastases. Dose modifications downgraded severity or resolved dizziness in 78% of patients; 58% of patients had pharmacologic intervention without dose modification. Dizziness was downgraded/resolved in 62% (n = 120/195) of patients who did not receive dose modification or pharmacologic intervention. Treatment-related cognitive impairment and weight gain occurred in 19% and 12% of patients, respectively. Treatment-emergent withdrawal pain occurred in 14% of patients (median resolution time, 2.1 weeks). Dose interruption and reduction from TRAEs occurred in 39% and 38% of patients, respectively; 10% reported later re-escalation back to 160 mg BID. Conclusion Many repotrectinib AEs, including neurological AEs secondary to TRK inhibition, were mitigated with appropriate management, including dose modification and/or pharmacologic intervention.
Five-Year Clinical Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma in CheckMate 743
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 24, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 742-749
In this 5-year follow-up from the CheckMate 743 study in patients with unresectable pleural mesothelioma (PM), we evaluated updated efficacy and safety outcomes and biomarkers and performed treatment-switching analyses with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 66.8 months, nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated continued overall survival (OS) benefit versus chemotherapy in all randomly assigned patients (5-year OS rates, 14% v 6%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.74 [95% CI, 0.62 to 0.88]); similar benefit was observed regardless of tumor histology. Of biomarker-evaluable patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (n = 242), high baseline monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cell (M-MDSC) levels correlated with worse OS versus low M-MDSC levels (HR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.43]). After adjusting for 24% of patients in the chemotherapy arm who received subsequent immunotherapy, nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated continued OS benefit versus chemotherapy (HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.53 to 0.78]). No new safety signals were observed. These results demonstrate long-term, durable clinical benefit with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy, which continued to be preserved even after treatment-switching adjustment in the chemotherapy arm. Exploratory analyses suggested greater benefit with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in the low M-MDSC subgroup. These results further support first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab as standard of care for unresectable PM.
Discordance in Recommendation Between Next-Generation Sequencing Test Reports and Molecular Tumor Boards in India
JCO Global Oncology | March 14, 2024 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: 10 | Pages: No page available
PURPOSE Accurate understanding of the genomic and transcriptomic data provided by next-generation sequencing (NGS) is essential for the effective utilization of precision oncology. Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) aim to translate the complex data in NGS reports into effective clinical interventions. Often, MTB treatment recommendations differ from those in the NGS reports. In this study, we analyze the discordance between these recommendations and the rationales behind the discordances, in a non–high-income setting, with international input to evaluate the necessity of MTB in clinical practice. METHODS We collated data from MTB that were virtually hosted in Chennai, India. We included patients with malignancies who had NGS reports on solid tissue or liquid biopsies, and excluded those with incomplete data. MTB forms and NGS reports of each clinical case were analyzed and evaluated for recommendation concordance. Concordance was defined as an agreement between the first recommendation in the MTB forms and the therapeutic recommendations suggested in the NGS report. Discordance was the absence of the said agreement. The rationales for discordance were identified and documented. RESULTS Seventy MTB reports were analyzed with 49 cases meeting the inclusion criteria. The recommendation discordance was 49% (24 of 49). Discordant recommendations were mainly due to low level of evidence for the drug (75% of cases). CONCLUSION The discordance between MTB and NGS vendor recommendations highlights the clinical utility of MTB. The educational experiences provided by this initiative are an example of how virtual academic collaborations can enhance patient care and provider education across geographic borders.
First-line nivolumab (NIVO) plus ipilimumab (IPI) versus chemotherapy (chemo) for the treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM): Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from CheckMate 743
Pneumologie | October 26, 2023 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available
Importance of clinical decision making in precision oncology: Discordance in recommendation between next generation sequencing test vendor and molecular tumour board in India.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 4, 2023 | Volume: 41 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: e15050-e15050
e15050 Background: Molecular tumour boards (MTB) facilitate discussions among medical professionals, scientists, bioinformaticians and geneticists for clinical application of precision oncology, via interpretation of various genomic sequencing studies, most commonly Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). NGS test vendor recommendation may differ from the MTB recommendations. We aim to study the discordance rate between these recommendations. Methods: MTB discussions between April 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, were retrospectively evaluated. MTBs which assessed NGS reports with or without significant genetic mutations but with drug recommendations were included. NGS testing was done with multiple vendors. Patients from all over India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were discussed. We excluded MTBs which assessed NGS data without any drug recommendations. We compared therapeutic recommendations provided in the NGS report with the first-choice recommendation in the MTB discussion. Recommendation discordance was defined as disagreement between the NGS recommendation and the first MTB recommendation that either instructed its implementation either immediately or on disease progression. Results: 70 MTB data was studied. 49 MTBs assessing NGS reports of 49 unique patients (median age 54 years; range, 32-82) were included in the study. 13 patients had lung cancer, 10 colorectal, 6 breast, 7 hepatopancreatobiliary, 4 carcinoma of unknown primary and 9 others. 17 did not provide any treatment recommendations and hence were excluded. 4 were discussions based on NGS reports previously discussed in an MTB that was already included in the study, hence were excluded. Recommendation discordance rate was 49% (24 of 49). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study that assessed discordance rate in recommendations between NGS report and MTB from a low- and middle-income country setting. Accurate clinical translation of complex genomic data is at the forefront of personalized cancer care.
Safety and efficacy of tazemetostat, an enhancer of zeste-homolog 2 inhibitor, in patients with relapsed or refractory malignant mesothelioma.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 9058-9058
9058 Background: Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1)-associated protein 1 (BAP1), a nuclear deubiquitinase, is commonly inactivated in malignant mesothelioma. Preclinical data showed that BAP1 inactivation sensitizes mesothelial cells to inhibition of enhancer of zeste-homolog 2 (EZH2), a methyltransferase implicated as an oncogenic driver in this tumor. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tazemetostat (TAZ), a potent and selective EZH2 inhibitor, in relapsed/refractory (R/R) malignant mesothelioma with BAP1-inactivation. Methods: EZH-203 (NCT02860286) was a 2-part, open-label, phase 2 study that assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and efficacy of TAZ in pts with R/R malignant mesothelioma. In part 1, pts received TAZ 800 mg QD on day 1 (D1) and 800 mg BID, beginning day 2 of cycle 1 (C1). In part 2, pts received 800 mg of TAZ BID on D1 of C1. A two-stage Green-Dahlberg design was used for part 2. Primary endpoints were PK profiling of TAZ in all pts (part 1), and disease control rate (DCR) at week 12 in pts with BAP1-deficient R/R malignant mesothelioma (part 2). Secondary endpoints included safety, overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival, overall survival, and duration of response (DOR). Results: The study enrolled 74 pts with R/R malignant mesothelioma, 70 pts (95%) were centrally confirmed to be BAP1-deficient. Median prior lines of therapy were 2 (range, 1-9). Observed clinical data in the presence of CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers suggest a low DDI potential of TAZ. The 12 week DCR was 47% (n = 35). The ORR per RECIST version 1.1 was 3% [complete response: 0%; partial response (PR): 3% (n = 2)]. Of the 2 patients with PR, 1 had a DOR of 21 weeks and the other is ongoing (15.3 weeks at data cut off). 47 pts (64%) and 21 pts (28%) had stable disease (SD) and progressive disease, respectively. Overall, 91% pts discontinued, either due to disease progression (n = 65), death (n = 5), or treatment discontinuation (n = 1). Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in ≤5% of patients, most commonly anemia (5%) and dyspnea (4%). No pts discontinued due to TEAEs. There were no treatment related deaths. Conclusions: Based on disease control rate and stable disease, TAZ showed antitumor activity in pts with BAP1-deficient R/R malignant mesothelioma. TAZ monotherapy was generally well-tolerated. The current data support further clinical evaluation of TAZ in these pts. Furthermore, this trial presents an optimal paradigm for drug development in molecularly-enriched cohorts in mesothelioma. Clinical trial information: NCT02860286.
Checkmate 743: A phase 3, randomized, open-label trial of nivolumab (nivo) plus ipilimumab (ipi) vs pemetrexed plus cisplatin or carboplatin as first-line therapy in unresectable pleural mesothelioma.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | September 6, 2018 | Volume: 35 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: TPS8581-TPS8581
TPS8581 Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of < 10%. At diagnosis, most patients (pts) have unresectable disease. Combination chemotherapy of cisplatin (or carboplatin as an alternative) + pemetrexed is the approved first-line standard of care. Phase 1 and 2 data suggest that targeting immune checkpoint pathways (eg, programmed death [PD]-1/PD-ligand 1 [PD-L1] and/or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 [CTLA-4]) may provide benefit with acceptable safety in MPM. In pts with previously treated, malignant mesothelioma, single-agent tremelimumab (a CTLA-4 inhibitor antibody) was active but did not improve OS vs placebo. In a phase 2 study of nivo (a fully human PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody) in 34 pts with MPM that progressed after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, 12-week disease control rate (DCR) was 50%, 5 pts had partial response, and 12 pts had stable disease. Given the data with single-agent CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors and that CTLA-4 inhibition can induce PD-L1 expression, there is reason to anticipate synergy when combining CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors in MPM. A phase 2 study assessing nivo alone and nivo + ipi (a CTLA-4 inhibitor antibody) in MPM is ongoing. CheckMate 743 (NCT02899299) is a phase 3 study that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line nivo + ipi vs chemotherapy for MPM. Methods: Approximately 600 adult pts with unresectable MPM and ECOG performance status 0–1 will be randomized. Pts are ineligible if they have primary peritoneal, pericardial, or tunica vaginalis testis mesotheliomas; have active, untreated CNS metastases; or had received prior systemic therapy for pleural mesothelioma or a prior PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor antibody. Pts are randomized 1:1 to receive nivo + ipi or pemetrexed + cisplatin/carboplatin. Primary endpoints are OS and progression-free survival (PFS), assessed by blinded independent central review. Secondary endpoints are objective response rate (ORR), DCR, and correlation of PD-L1 expression level and efficacy (ORR, PFS, and OS). Clinical trial information: NCT02899299.
Phase 2, multicenter study of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat as monotherapy in adults with relapsed or refractory (R/R) malignant mesothelioma (MM) with BAP1 inactivation.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | September 5, 2018 | Volume: 36 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 8515-8515