Maintenance avelumab + best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone after platinum-based first-line (1L) chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC): JAVELIN Bladder 100 phase III interim analysis

LBA1

Background: Platinum-based chemotherapy is an active 1L regimen for advanced UC; however, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) are generally short because of chemotherapy resistance. This randomized, phase 3 trial (JAVELIN Bladder 100; NCT02603432) evaluated avelumab (anti–PD-L1) as maintenance therapy following response or stable disease with 1L platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced UC. Methods: Eligible patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC without disease progression after 4-6 cycles of gemcitabine with either cisplatin or carboplatin were randomized 1:1 to receive maintenance avelumab (10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks) + best supportive care (BSC) or BSC alone, stratified by best response to 1L chemotherapy (complete/partial response vs stable disease) and by visceral vs nonvisceral disease when initiating 1L chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was OS, assessed from randomization in 2 primary populations: all randomized patients and patients with PD-L1+ tumors (Ventana SP263 assay). Secondary endpoints included PFS, objective response, and safety. Results: 700 patients were randomly assigned to maintenance avelumab + BSC (n=350) or BSC alone (n=350) and were followed for a median of 19.6 and 19.2 months, respectively. Overall, 358 (51%) had PD-L1+ tumors. Avelumab + BSC significantly prolonged OS vs BSC alone in all randomized patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.69; 95% CI 0.56, 0.86; 1-sided p=0.0005); median OS with avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone was 21.4 vs 14.3 months, respectively. Avelumab + BSC also significantly prolonged OS vs BSC alone in patients with PD-L1+ tumors (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.40, 0.79; 1-sided p=0.0003); median OS was not reached vs 17.1 months, respectively. An OS benefit was also observed across all prespecified subgroups. The HR for PFS based on blinded independent central review with avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone was 0.62 (95% CI 0.52, 0.75) in all randomized patients and 0.56 (95% CI 0.43, 0.73) in patients with PD-L1+ tumors. In treated patients in the avelumab + BSC (n=344) vs BSC alone (n=345) arms, respectively, all-causality adverse events (AEs) were reported at any grade in 98.0% vs 77.7% and at grade ≥3 in 47.4% vs 25.2%, and the most frequent grade ≥3 AEs were urinary tract infection (4.4% vs 2.6%), anemia (3.8% vs 2.9%), hematuria (1.7% vs 1.4%), fatigue (1.7% vs 0.6%), and back pain (1.2% vs 2.3%). Conclusions: JAVELIN Bladder 100 met its primary objective, demonstrating significantly prolonged OS with 1L maintenance avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone in advanced UC in all randomized patients and patients with PD-L1+ tumors. Efficacy benefits were seen across all prespecified subgroups, and the safety profile of avelumab was consistent with previous studies of monotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02603432 .

Depatuxizumab mafodotin (Depatux-M) plus temozolomide (TMZ) in recurrent glioblastoma patients: Real-world experience from a multicenter study of Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology (AINO)

2544

Background: Precision medicine is a promising tool in oncology. Depatux-M is a new antibody-drug conjugate, consisting of a specific antibody against activated EGFR and a cytotoxic agent with antimicrotubule activity. The Intellance2/EORTC 1410 phase II trial, showed interesting results for Depatux-M and TMZ combination in EGFR-amplified glioblastoma (GBM) patients (PTS) at first recurrence after RT and TMZ. In our study, we investigated clinical outcome and safety of this combination used in recurrent GBM PTS as “compassionate use”. Methods: In this prospective observational study, PTS were enrolled from 7 centres of AINO. Major inclusion criteria were: histologically confirmed diagnosis of GBM, 1 or more prior systemic therapies, ECOG PS ≤ 2 and EGFR-amplified (analyzed by FISH). According to original schedule, patients received Depatux-M 1.25 mg/kg every two weeks combined with TMZ until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival curves, RANO criteria for radiological assessment, CTCAE v5.0 for drug related adverse events. Results: From October 2018 to June 2019, we enrolled 36 PTS: median age was 57, ECOG PS 0-1 in 88% of PTS, MGMTmet in 64%, 42% received the treatment as second-line therapy and 27% underwent further chemotherapy at progression. At the time of analysis, 13 PTS (36%) had died and 27 PTS (75%) had progressed. Median OS was 8.7ms (95%CI not available), 6ms OS was 68%; median PFS was 2.3ms (95% CI 1.8 – 2.8), 6ms PFS was 37%. All PTS were evaluable for response: disease control rate was 47%: stable disease was reported in 36% and partial response in 11% of PTS. Drug-related adverse events led to dose reductions of Depatux-M in 17% of PTS, in 28% was delayed and in 8% was permanently discontinued. The most frequent grade 3-4 adverse events were ocular toxicity in 67% and haematological toxicity in 17% of PTS; no death was considered drug-related. Conclusions: We report the first “real world” experience of Depatux-M plus TMZ in recurrent GBM. We showed encouraging clinical benefit, despite most patients were treated beyond the second-line of therapy. Overall the results are closed to those reported in previous phase II trial. Although toxicity was higher than expected, it was manageable and only a small group of patients discontinued the treatment due to serious adverse events

Avelumab as single agent for patients with metastatic or locally advanced urothelial cancer PD-L1+ unfit for cisplatin: The ARIES study

TPS596

Background: Urothelial cancer (UC) is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, this tumour has a poor prognosis when in advanced stage. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is considered the most effective treatment but more than 50% of patients are considered not eligible ( cis-unfit) for this regimen and have a median survival of only 6-9 months. In the past years, the most used chemotherapy regimen for cis-unfit patients was the combination of carboplatin and gemcitabine. Two single arm studies tested the anti-PD-L1/PD1 monoclonal antibodies atezolizumab and pembrolizumab and reported a response rate of 25% with good safety profile in an unselected population for PD-L1 expression. Recently, atezolizumab alone showed longer OS compared to carboplatin-gemcitabine regimen. Avelumab is another fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 antibody already tested in urothelial and in other cancers with a promising safety and efficacy profile. Methods: The single arm, phase II ARIES trial (NCT03891238), aims to evaluate the activity and efficacy of avelumab in patients with metastatic or locally advanced UC considered cis-unfit with PD-L1 expression ≥5%. Overall survival is the primary endpoint. Cis-unfit definition includes at least one of the following characteristics (i) ECOG-Performance status=2; (ii) creatinine clearance <60 ml/min; (iii) grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy or hearing loss; (iv) disease progression within six months after a previous adjuvant/neoadjuvant treatment with cisplatin-based therapy. Avelumab will be administered at standard dose of 10 mg/kg in 1-hour intravenous infusion every 2 weeks (Q2W). Sixty-seven patients will be enrolled, and supportive care is allowed during the study. Avelumab may be continued after radiological progression of disease at physician’s discretion if an improvement of symptoms or not new symptoms will be reported. The study is currently ongoing in twenty centres in Italy. Clinical trial information: NCT03891238.

Safety and Efficacy of Cabozantinib for Metastatic Nonclear Renal Cell Carcinoma: Real-world Data From an Italian Managed Access Program

OBJECTIVE

The activity of cabozantinib in nonclear cell histologies has not been evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected across 24 Italian hospitals. Patients were aged 18 years and older with advanced nonclear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 0 to 2, who had relapsed after previous systemic treatments for metastatic disease. Cabozantinib was administered orally at 60 mg once a day in 28 days cycles. Dose reductions to 40 or 20 mg were made due to toxicity. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored using CTCAE version 4.0.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were enrolled. Three (18%) patients were diagnosed type I papillary RCC, 9 (53%) type II papillary, 3 (18%) chromophobe, and 2 (11%) with Bellini duct carcinoma. In total, 11 patients started with 60 mg. Six patients started a lower dose of 40 mg. Median progression-free survival was 7.83 months (0.4 to 13.4 mo), while median overall survival was not reached but 1-year overall survival was about 60%. Six patients (35%) experienced a partial response to treatment and 6 patients (35%) showed a stable disease. In the remaining 5 (30%), we observed a progressive disease. Grade 3 and 4 AEs were observed in 41% of patients. Among 20 patients, only 1 (6%) discontinued treatment due to AEs. Asthenia (41%), diarrhea (35%), aminotransferase increasing (35%), mucosal inflammation (35%), hand and foot syndrome (24%), and hypothyroidism (24%) were the most frequently AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed that, cabozantinib is a active and feasible treatment in patient with nonclear cell RCC.

Effect of gender on the outcome of patients receiving nivolumab for metastatic renal cancer: Results from a large study population

e16087

Background: Several studies, the majority on melanoma and lung cancer, have addressed the value of gender with respect to immune check point inhibitors outcome as compared to standard therapy, showing conflicting results. Nevertheless, few focused on gender-related clinical outcome and toxicity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Methods: This analysis evaluated the effect of gender on overall survival and adverse events (AEs) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v.4.0 in an expanded access programme of nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks in second-line and beyond metastatic RCC. Only patients assuming at least one dose of nivolumab were analyzed. Results: Of 389 patients analyzed, 25.2% were female. On study entry, no differences were found in women as compared to men in terms of age, on average 64 years, p = 0.91; overweight/obesity, 45 versus (vs) 49%, p = 0.47; LDH , mean U/L 391 vs 32, p = 0.17); and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio> 3 (62 vs 63%, p = 0.87). Disease presentation was similar according to gender, although women tended to present less lung (66% vs 76%, p = 0.06) and bone metastases (42% vs 52%, p = 0.07). Notably, there was no differences in the IDMC prognostic model by gender (p = 0.94). Any drug related AEs (38 vs 30%, p 0.15), grade 3-4 (6% vs 6%) and median number of drug doses 12 (53% vs50%, p = 0.58 ) did not differ between gender. After adjusting for known prognostic variables, multivariate analysis showed that women had similar overall survival as compared to men (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.56-1.17, p = 0.26). Conclusions: Women demonstrate similar overall survival than men in metastatic RCC treated with secondal line and beyond nivolumab, with no differences observed in serious AEs and dose administered.

Association of body mass index and systemic inflammation index with survival in patients with renal cell cancer treated with nivolumab

e16077

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and inflammation indexes are easily evaluated, predict survival in many tumors, and are potentially modifiable. The "obesity paradox" of longer survival in cancer patients with high BMI has been explained by altered fatty acid pathways, which could have an impact in immune-inflammatory function, and leptin-driven increase in T cell aging resulting in higher PD-1 expression and dysfunction, which leaves tumors notably more sensitive to checkpoint blockade. We evaluated the potential association of inflammatory indexes and BMI with the clinical outcome of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Methods: A prospective cohort of patients with mRCC treated with nivolumab enrolled in the Italian Expanded Access Program (EAP) from July 2015 through April 2016 was examined. Reference measures of inflammation were identified for neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) < /≥3, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) < /≥3 and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) < /≥232. Patients were classified as high BMI (≥25 kg/m2) versus normal BMI ( < 25 kg/m2). Results: Among 313 evaluable patients, 289 (75.1%) were male, median age was 65 years (range, 40 to 84), with 105 (24.9%) ≥70 years. In univariate analysis, age ≥70 years, performance status, BMI, SII, NLR and PLR were able to predict outcome. In multivariate analyses, SII ≥1375, BMI < 25 and age ≥70 years independently predicted OS (HR, 2.96; 95% CI, 2.05-4.27; HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.10-2.30 and HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.07-2.55, respectively). Under the model of independent effects, a patient with both SII ≥1375 and BMI < 25 was estimated to have much worse OS (HR, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.29-4.95, p < 0.0001) than a patient with neither or only one risk factor. SII changes at 3 months predicted OS (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: BMI combined with inflammation tripled the risk of death, suggesting that these biomarkers are critical prognostic factors for OS in patients with mRCC treated with nivolumab.

Association of Systemic Inflammation Index and Body Mass Index with Survival in Patients with Renal Cell Cancer Treated with Nivolumab

PURPOSE

Inflammation indexes and body mass index (BMI) are easily evaluated, predict survival, and are potentially modifiable. We evaluated the potential association of inflammatory indexes and BMI with the clinical outcome of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A prospective cohort of patients with metastatic RCC treated with nivolumab enrolled in the Italian Expanded Access Program from July 2015 through April 2016 was examined. Reference measures of inflammation were identified for neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) </≥ 3, systemic immune inflammation index (SII) </≥ 1,375, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) </≥ 232. Patients were classified as high BMI (≥25 kg/m²) versus normal BMI (<25 kg/m²).

RESULTS

Among 313 evaluable patients, 235 (75.1%) were male, and median age was 65 years (range, 40-84 years), with 105 (33.69%) ≥70 years. In univariate analysis, age, performance status, BMI, SII, NLR, and PLR were able to predict outcome. In multivariate analyses, SII ≥1,375, BMI <25 kg/m², and age ≥70 years independently predicted overall survival [OS; HR = 2.96, 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.05-4.27; HR = 1.59, 95% CI, 1.10-2.30; and HR = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.07-2.55, respectively). A patient with both SII ≥1,375 and BMI <25 kg/m² was estimated to have much worse OS (HR, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.29-4.95; P <0.0001) than a patient with neither or only one risk factor. SII changes at 3 months predicted OS (P <0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Normal BMI combined with inflammation tripled the risk of death, suggesting that these biomarkers are critical prognostic factors for OS in patients with RCC treated with nivolumab.

PAzopanib as first line in MEtastatic RCC patients: A “real-world” ITalian experience (PAMERIT study)—Preliminary results

611

Background: Pazopanib (Pazo) became a standard of care in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) patients (pts) based on 2 prospective trials, but “real life” data are slight. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes in a large series of mRCC pts routinely treated with 1st line Pazo, among 39 Italian Centers. Descriptive statistics has been performed using Chi-Square and Pearson rank correlation test. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety data are still under investigation. Results: 474 mRCC pts have been collected and divided in 4 age categories: 1) ≤50 yrs old (9.4%); 2) 51-64 yrs old (32.6%); 3) 65-74 yrs old (33.0%); 4) ≥75 yrs old (25.0%). According to Heng score, 25.6%, 48.4% and 10.4% pts had good, intermediate and poor prognosis, respectively, without correlations with age (p = 0.128). Clear cell was the most represented histology (87.3%), independently from age (p = 0.556). 84.6% pts underwent nephrectomy, mainly younger pts (p = 0.000). Pazo initial daily dose was 800 mg in 76.5% pts, 600 mg in 10.8% pts and 400 mg in 12.7% pts, with a significant dose reduction in elderly pts: Pazo 800 was administered in 86.7% of ≤50 yrs old pts and in 54.2% of ≥75 yrs old pts (p = 0.000). Complete (CR)/partial response (PR), stable and progressive disease have been recorded in 37%, 39.5% and 23.5% pts, respectively. Radiological response directly correlated either with age (CR/PR in 55.6% of ≤50 yrs old pts vs 28.8% of ≥75 yrs old pts; p = 0.009) and with Heng score (CR/PR in 47.1% of good prognosis pts vs 24.5% of poor prognosis pts; p = 0.002). Conclusions: “Real world” data showed that younger (≤50 yrs old) mRCC pts more frequently underwent nephrectomy, received Pazo 800 mg daily and obtained CR/PR, with respect to elderly pts (≥75 yrs old). CR/PR to Pazo is associated with good prognosis. PFS and OS will be provided.

Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma with Stereotactic Radiotherapy: Long-Term Results of a Mono-Institutional Trial

Aims and background

Few clinical data exist concerning normal brain tissue tolerance to re-irradiation. The present study evaluated long-term outcome of 22 recurrent glioblastoma patients re-irradiated with radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.

Methods

Twenty-two patients were treated with radiosurgery (13, 59%) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (9, 41%) for 24 lesions of recurrent glioblastoma. The male/female ratio was 14: 8, median age 55 years (range, 27–81), and median Karnofsky performance status 90 (range, 70–100). The majority of the cases (77%) was in recursive partitioning analysis classes III or IV. Radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was chosen according to lesion size and location.

Results

Median time between primary radiotherapy and re-irradiation was 9 months. Median doses were 17 Gy and 30 Gy, whereas median cumulative normalized total dose was 141 Gy and 98 Gy for radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, respectively. All patients submitted to radiosurgery had a cumulative normalized total dose of more than 100 Gy, whereas only a few (44%) of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy patients had a cumulative normalized total dose exceeding 100 Gy. Median follow-up from re-irradiation was 54 months. At the time of analysis, all patients had died. After re-irradiation, 1 (4%) lesion was in partial remission, 16 (67%) lesions were stable, and the remaining 7 (29%) were in progression. Median duration of response was 6 months, and median survival from re-irradiation 11 months. Three of 13 (23%) patients submitted to radiosurgery developed asymptomatic brain radionecrosis. The cumulative normalized total dose for the 3 patients was 122 Gy, 124 Gy, and 141 Gy, respectively. In one case, the volume of the lesion was large (14 cc), and in the other 2 the interval between the first and second cycle of radiotherapy was short (5 months).

Conclusions

Re-irradiation with radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is feasible and effective in recurrent glioblastoma patients. Apart from the importance of an accurate patient selection, cumulative radiotherapy dose and a correct indication for radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy must be taken into account to avoid brain toxicity. Free full text available at www.tumorionline.it

Predictors of long-term response to abiraterone in patients with metastastic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a retrospective cohort study

We aimed to identify clinical predictors of long-term response to abiraterone (defined as >12 months drug exposure) in a retrospective cohort of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated in post-docetaxel setting at 24 Italian centers. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the association between clinical features and the duration of drug exposure. Results were expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 143 patients met the inclusion criteria. Their median age was 73 years, median Gleason score 8 and median abiraterone exposure 20 months. At the univariate analysis, a significant correlation with the duration of abiraterone exposure was found for Gleason score (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.96; p=0.012), PSA (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18; p=0.08) and lactic dehydrogenase levels (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.46; p=0.027), while the association between lower alkaline phosphatase levels and treatment duration was marginally significant (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.99-1.16; p=0.074). Only PSA and Gleason score were predictive of long-term treatment duration in the multivariate analysis. No other clinical factors resulted to be predictive of sustained response to abiraterone, including metastatic disease at diagnosis and visceral disease, suggesting that all subgroups of patients may derive a substantial clinical benefit from abiraterone treatment. These findings need to be validated in prospective, larger studies.

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): Real world data from an Italian expanded access program (EAP)

4577

Background: Nivolumab showed a survival benefit in a randomised phase III trial in pre-treated mRCC. The EAP provided the opportunity to treat patients (pts) in real world clinical practice before market availability of the drug clinical practice. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the safety and activity of nivolumab in a real world setting. Methods: Nivolumab was available upon physician request for pts aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for mRCC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks. Pts included in the analysis had received ≥ 1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events using CTCAE v.4.0. Results: Totally, 389 pts were enrolled in the EAP across 95 Italian sites, median age was 65 years (range, 34-85) with 70 (18%) aged ≥ 75 yrs. Pts had a clear-cell RCC in 92% of cases, bone metastases in 50% and brain metastases in 8%, and received more than one previous line in 79% of cases. At the time of this analysis, median number of doses received was 10 (1-31) and 82 (21%) pts were treated beyond progression. Among 389 pts, 18 pts (5%) discontinued treatment due to AE. The best overall response rate was 17% including one complete and 66 partial responses, whereas 121 (31%) had stable disease. With a median follow-up of 7 months (range, 1 to 16), 6-month and 9-month survival rates were 83% and 77%, respectively. Response and survival rates were comparable among pts regardless age, presence of brain or bone metastases and number of prior therapies. Conclusions: This EAP represents the most extensive reported real-world experience with nivolumab in pre-treated RCC pts. These first data seem to confirm efficacy and safety data of the pivotal trial in a real world setting. Results in patient populations poorly (elderly or bone metastases) or not represented at all (brain metastases) in the pivotal trial encourage the use of nivolumab in these subgroups of RCC pts.

Early tumour shrinkage as a survival predictor in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab in the AVAREG randomized phase II study

BACKGROUND

Disease assessment for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) represents a challenge, especially with the use of antiangiogenic agents. Moreover, validated neuroradiological predictors of outcome are lacking. Recently, the concept of early tumor shrinkage (ETS) has been developed to better assess the ability of treatments in determining a rapid and remarkable tumor response.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of ETS in predicting survival of GBM patients treated with BEV

METHODS

We examined the radiological data of patients with recurrent GBM treated with bevacizumab (BEV) or fotemustine (FTM) in the randomized phase II AVAREG trial (EudraCT: 2011-001363-46).

Radiologic assessments at first disease assessment (day 46) were used to calculate the relative change in the sum of the products of perpendicular diameters of all measurable lesions determined by either T1 contrast and T2/FLAIR.

RESULTS

In patients treated with BEV, the best ETS cut-off was reduction of 15% with T1 contrast and of 40% with T2/FLAIR. Adopting this cut-off for T1 contrast radiological changes, ETS was a significant predictor of OS for patients treated with BEV (HR = 0.511, 95%CI:0.269-0.971, p = 0.040). The cut-off obtained for T2/FLAIR was not significantly correlated with OS (p = 0.102), but we found a trend for correlation with survival when considering the variable as continuous (p = 0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

ETS evaluating T1 contrast reduction is a helpful predictor of survival in patients with recurrent GBM treated with BEV, and if validated in a larger prospective trial could be a helpful surrogate endpoint.