In a placebo-controlled, phase 2 study, olaparib, an oral PARP inhibitor that should be effective in tumor cells with
BRCA1/2
-related base excision repair defects, increased progression-free ...survival from 4 months to 8 months in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic tumors in the Western world.
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Approximately 80% of patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer have a response to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, most patients have relapses, and responses to subsequent therapies are generally short-lived.
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–
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Maintenance chemotherapy as part of first-line treatment has been shown to prolong control of ovarian cancer,
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and disease control has also been prolonged with the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy in patients receiving first-line treatment
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,
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and in those with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer.
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However, new treatments are needed because most patients eventually have a relapse. . . .
In a multinational, randomized study, pembrolizumab produced significantly improved progression-free and overall survival and less high-grade toxicity than did ipilimumab in patients with metastatic ...melanoma.
Two therapeutic strategies have improved survival for patients with advanced melanoma in recent years: immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies blocking BRAF and MEK.
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BRAF and MEK inhibitors are indicated for the approximately 40 to 50% of patients with
BRAF
V600 mutations,
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whereas immunotherapies are effective independently of
BRAF
mutational status.
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Ipilimumab, which blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), a coinhibitory molecule of the immune system,
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,
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is approved for treating advanced melanoma on the basis of its survival benefit.
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,
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However, grade 3 or 4 adverse events, mostly immune-related,
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are observed in 23% of patients.
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,
6
When activated . . .
Summary Background Maintenance monotherapy with the PARP inhibitor olaparib significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ...ovarian cancer. We aimed to explore the hypothesis that olaparib is most likely to benefit patients with a BRCA mutation. Methods We present data from the second interim analysis of overall survival and a retrospective, preplanned analysis of data by BRCA mutation status from our randomised, double-blind, phase 2 study that assessed maintenance treatment with olaparib 400 mg twice daily (capsules) versus placebo in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer who had received two or more platinum-based regimens and who had a partial or complete response to their most recent platinum-based regimen. Randomisation was by an interactive voice response system, stratified by time to progression on penultimate platinum-based regimen, response to the most recent platinum-based regimen before randomisation, and ethnic descent. The primary endpoint was PFS, analysed for the overall population and by BRCA status. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00753545. Findings Between Aug 28, 2008, and Feb 9, 2010, 136 patients were assigned to olaparib and 129 to placebo. BRCA status was known for 131 (96%) patients in the olaparib group versus 123 (95%) in the placebo group, of whom 74 (56%) versus 62 (50%) had a deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or tumour BRCA mutation. Of patients with a BRCA mutation, median PFS was significantly longer in the olaparib group than in the placebo group (11·2 months 95% CI 8·3–not calculable vs 4·3 months 3·0–5·4; HR 0·18 0·10–0·31; p<0·0001); similar findings were noted for patients with wild-type BRCA , although the difference between groups was lower (7·4 months 5·5–10·3 vs 5·5 months 3·7–5·6; HR 0·54 0·34–0·85; p=0·0075). At the second interim analysis of overall survival (58% maturity), overall survival did not significantly differ between the groups (HR 0·88 95% CI 0·64–1·21; p=0·44); similar findings were noted for patients with mutated BRCA (HR 0·73 0·45–1·17; p=0·19) and wild-type BRCA (HR 0·99 0·63–1·55; p=0·96). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events in the olaparib group were fatigue (in ten 7% patients in the olaparib group vs four 3% in the placebo group) and anaemia (seven 5% vs one <1%). Serious adverse events were reported in 25 (18%) patients who received olaparib and 11 (9%) who received placebo. Tolerability was similar in patients with mutated BRCA and the overall population. Interpretation These results support the hypothesis that patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer with a BRCA mutation have the greatest likelihood of benefiting from olaparib treatment. Funding AstraZeneca.
Summary Background In patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer, maintenance monotherapy with the PARP inhibitor olaparib significantly improves progression-free survival ...versus placebo. We assessed the effect of maintenance olaparib on overall survival in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer, including those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations ( BRCA m). Methods In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 2 trial involving 82 sites across 16 countries, patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer who had received two or more courses of platinum-based chemotherapy and had responded to their latest regimen were randomly assigned (1:1) using a computer-generated sequence to receive oral maintenance olaparib (as capsules; 400 mg twice a day) or a matching placebo by an interactive voice response system. Patients were stratified by ancestry, time to progression on penultimate platinum, and response to most recent platinum. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment by the use of unique identifiers generated during randomisation. The primary endpoint of the trial was progression-free survival. In this updated analysis, we present data for overall survival, a secondary endpoint, from the third data analysis after more than 5 years’ follow-up (intention-to-treat population). We did the updated overall survival analysis, described in this Article at 77% data maturity, using a two-sided α of 0·95%. As the study was not powered to assess overall survival, this analysis should be regarded as descriptive and the p values are nominal. We analysed randomly assigned patients for overall survival and all patients who received at least one dose of treatment for safety. This trial is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00753545. Findings Between Aug 28, 2008, and Feb 9, 2010, 265 patients were randomly assigned to olaparib (n=136) or placebo (n=129). 136 patients had deleterious BRCA m. The data cutoff for this analysis was Sept 30, 2015. An overall survival advantage was seen with maintenance olaparib versus placebo in all patients (hazard ratio HR 0·73 95% CI 0·55–0·96; nominal p=0·025, which did not meet the required threshold for statistical significance p<0·0095; median overall survival was 29·8 months 95% CI 26·9–35·7 for those treated with olaparib vs 27·8 months 24·9–33·7 for those treated with placebo), and in patients with BRCA m (HR 0·62 95% CI 0·41–0·94 nominal p=0·025; 34·9 months 95% CI 29·2–54·6 vs 30·2 months 23·1–40·7). The overall survival data in patients with BRCA wild-type were HR 0·83 (95% CI 0·55–1·24, nominal p=0·37; 24·5 months 19·8–35·0 for those treated with olaparib vs 26·6 months 23·1–32·5 for those treated with placebo). 11 (15%) of 74 patients with BRCA m received maintenance olaparib for 5 years or more. Overall, common grade 3 or worse adverse events in the olaparib and placebo groups were fatigue (11 8% of 136 patients vs four 3% of 128) and anaemia (eight 6% vs one 1%). 30 (22%) of 136 patients in the olaparib group and 11 (9%) of 128 patients in the placebo group reported serious adverse events. In patients treated for 2 years or more, adverse events in the olaparib and placebo groups included low-grade nausea (24 75% of 32 patients vs two 40% of five), fatigue (18 56% of 32 vs two 40% of five), vomiting (12 38% of 32 vs zero), and anaemia (eight 25% of 32 vs one 20% of five); generally, events were initially reported during the first 2 years of treatment. Interpretation Despite not reaching statistical significance, patients with BRCA -mutated platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer receiving olaparib maintenance monotherapy after platinum-based chemotherapy appeared to have longer overall survival, supporting the reported progression-free survival benefit. Clinically useful long-term exposure to olaparib was seen with no new safety signals. Taken together, these data support both the long-term clinical benefit and tolerability of maintenance olaparib in patients with BRCA -mutated platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer. Funding AstraZeneca.
Rucaparib is a potent, oral, small-molecule PARP inhibitor. This phase I-II study was the first to evaluate single-agent oral rucaparib at multiple doses.
Part 1 (phase I) sought to determine the ...MTD, recommended phase II dose (RP2D), and pharmacokinetics of oral rucaparib administered in 21-day continuous cycles in patients with advanced solid tumors. Part 2A (phase II) enrolled patients with platinum-sensitive, high-grade ovarian carcinoma (HGOC) associated with a germline
mutation who received two to four prior regimens and had a progression-free interval of 6 months or more following their most recent platinum therapy. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST version 1.1.
In part 1, 56 patients received oral rucaparib (40 to 500 mg once daily and 240 to 840 mg twice daily). No MTD was identified per protocol-defined criteria; 600 mg twice daily was selected as the RP2D based on manageable toxicity and clinical activity. Pharmacokinetics were approximately dose-proportional across all dose levels. In part 2A, 42 patients with germline
-mutated HGOC received rucaparib 600 mg twice daily. Investigator-assessed ORR was 59.5%. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (all grades) were asthenia/fatigue (85.7%; 36/42), nausea (83.3%; 35/42), anemia (71.4%; 30/42), alanine transaminase and/or aspartate transaminase elevations (57.1%; 24/42), and vomiting (54.8%; 23/42). Among 98 patients, 5 (5.1%) discontinued because of an adverse event (excluding disease progression).
Rucaparib was tolerable and had activity in patients with platinum-sensitive germline
-mutated HGOC.
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KEYNOTE-158 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02628067) is a phase II basket study investigating the antitumor activity and safety of pembrolizumab in multiple cancer types. We present interim ...results from patients with previously treated advanced cervical cancer.
Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for 2 years or until progression, intolerable toxicity, or physician or patient decision. Tumor imaging was performed every 9 weeks for the first 12 months and every 12 weeks thereafter. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR), assessed per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1) by independent central radiologic review. Safety was a secondary end point.
Ninety-eight patients were treated. Median age was 46.0 years (range, 24 to 75 years), and 65.3% of patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1. Eighty-two patients (83.7%) had programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive tumors (combined positive score ≥ 1), 77 having previously received one or more lines of chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease. Median follow-up was 10.2 months (range, 0.6 to 22.7 months). ORR was 12.2% (95% CI, 6.5% to 20.4%), with three complete and nine partial responses. All 12 responses were in patients with PD-L1-positive tumors, for an ORR of 14.6% (95% CI, 7.8% to 24.2%); 14.3% (95% CI, 7.4% to 24.1%) of these responses were in those who had received one or more lines of chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease. Median duration of response was not reached (range, ≥ 3.7 to ≥ 18.6 months). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 65.3% of patients, and the most common were hypothyroidism (10.2%), decreased appetite (9.2%), and fatigue (9.2%). Treatment-related grade 3 to 4 adverse events occurred in 12.2% of patients.
Pembrolizumab monotherapy demonstrated durable antitumor activity and manageable safety in patients with advanced cervical cancer. On the basis of these results, the US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval of pembrolizumab for patients with advanced PD-L1-positive cervical cancer who experienced progression during or after chemotherapy.
The gut microbiome has been shown to influence the response of tumors to anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death-1) immunotherapy in preclinical mouse models and observational patient cohorts. However, ...modulation of gut microbiota in cancer patients has not been investigated in clinical trials. In this study, we performed a phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety and feasibility of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and reinduction of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in 10 patients with anti-PD-1-refractory metastatic melanoma. We observed clinical responses in three patients, including two partial responses and one complete response. Notably, treatment with FMT was associated with favorable changes in immune cell infiltrates and gene expression profiles in both the gut lamina propria and the tumor microenvironment. These early findings have implications for modulating the gut microbiota in cancer treatment.
Pembrolizumab versus Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma Robert, Caroline; Schachter, Jacob; Long, Georgina V. ...
New England journal of medicine/The New England journal of medicine,
06/2015, Volume:
372, Issue:
26
Journal Article
Introduction
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the oncologic landscape in the past few years. Alongside impressive antitumor responses, new novel immune‐related adverse events (irAEs) ...have emerged; pneumonitis is an irAE that can potentially be fatal and necessitates a proper management. No consensus exists regarding steroid treatment duration or drug rechallenge options. Our study describes the clinical and radiological course of melanoma patients diagnosed with immune‐related pneumonitis that has recurred because of rechallenge attempt or despite complete treatment discontinuation (unprovoked).
Materials and Methods
The study population was composed of patients with metastatic melanoma who were treated with anti‐programmed cell death 1 (PD‐1) as monotherapy or in combination with anti‐cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 and who were diagnosed with immune‐related pneumonitis. For recurrent cases after clinical and radiological resolution, we explored the differences from cases with no recurrence.
Results
Nineteen out of 386 (4.8%) patients treated with ICI were diagnosed with pneumonitis. Median age was 66 years, and 53% were male. Compared with single‐agent nivolumab, patients treated with ipilimumab‐nivolumab combination presented with an earlier onset (27.5 vs. 10.3 weeks, respectively, p = .015) and had higher grades of severity. After complete resolution, rechallenge was attempted in seven patients; three of them had recurrent pneumonitis. Three other patients experienced recurrent pneumonitis despite complete discontinuation of the drug (unprovoked by rechallenge). The latter were characterized with an earlier onset of the first pneumonitis compared with those who did not experience recurrence (median, 12.4 vs. 26.4 weeks) and a shorter course of steroid treatment at first episode (median, 5.1 vs. 10 weeks). Recurrent cases were generally more severe than the first episode.
Conclusion
Unprovoked recurrent pneumonitis is a new, poorly reported entity that requires further investigation. Our observations suggest that cases of pneumonitis that present early in the course of immunotherapy treatment may recur despite treatment discontinuation, thus necessitating closer monitoring and a longer course of steroid treatment.
Implications for Practice
This article sheds light on a poorly described immune‐related adverse event: recurrent pneumonitis despite complete discontinuation of immunotherapy (unprovoked), in patients with advanced melanoma.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with a unique profile of adverse events that can affect many organ systems. One of them is immune‐mediated pneumonitis — an uncommon adverse event that might be life threatening. Up to date, no consensus exists regarding immunotherapy rechallenge in these cases. This article evaluates the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with metastatic melanoma who experienced recurrent immune‐related pneumonitis with or without treatment rechallenge.
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