REGOMA-OSS: a large, Italian, multicenter, prospective, observational study evaluating the efficacy and safety of regorafenib in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

In the randomized phase II REGOMA trial, regorafenib showed promising activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. We conducted a large, multicenter, prospective, observational study to confirm the REGOMA data in a real-world setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The major inclusion criteria were histologically confirmed diagnosis of glioblastoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification and relapse after radiotherapy with concurrent/adjuvant temozolomide treatment, good performance status [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS 0-1)] and good liver function. Regorafenib was administered at the standard dose of 160 mg/day for 3 weeks on/1 week off. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was carried out within 14 days before starting regorafenib and every 8-12 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, disease control rate (DCR), safety and health-related quality of life. The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria were used for response evaluation and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5 for assessment of adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

From September 2020 to October 2022, 190 patients with recurrent glioblastoma were enrolled from 30 cancer centers in Italy: their median age was 58.5 years [interquartile range (IQR) 53-67 years], 68% were male and 85 (44.7%) were in optimal clinical condition (ECOG PS 0). The number of patients taking steroids at baseline was 113 (60%); the second surgery was carried out in 39 (20.5%). O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was methylated in 80 patients (50.3%) and 147 (92.4%) of the patients analyzed had isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild type. The median follow-up period was 20 months (IQR 15.6-25.5 months). The median OS was 7.9 months ([95% confidence interval (CI) 6.5-9.2 months] and the median PFS was 2.6 months (95% CI 2.3-2.9 months). Radiological response was partial response and stable disease in 13 (7.3%) and 26 (14.6%) patients, respectively, with a DCR of 21.9%. The median number of regorafenib cycles per patient was 3 (IQR 2.0-4.0). Grade 3-4 drug-related adverse events were reported in 22.6% of patients. A dose reduction due to AEs was required in 36% of patients. No deaths were considered as treatment-related AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

This large, real-world observational study showed similar OS with better tolerability of regorafenib in patients with relapsed glioblastoma compared with the REGOMA study.

TROP-2, NECTIN-4 and predictive biomarkers in sarcomatoid and rhabdoid bladder urothelial carcinoma

Introduction

The surface protein TROP-2/TACSTD2 and the cell adhesion protein NECTIN-4/NECTIN4 are responsible for the efficacy of anticancer therapies based on antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) targeting intracellular microtubules. In contrast with common histologic subtypes of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC), little is known of TROP-2 and NECTIN-4 expression in sarcomatoid and rhabdoid BUC.

Aims

In this study, we aimed to analyze TROP-2 and NECTIN-4 expression and additional predictive biomarkers by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on 35 undifferentiated BUC (28 sarcomatoid and 7 rhabdoid). Wide genomic investigation was also performed on 411 BUC cases of the PanCancer Atlas, focusing on genes related to the microtubule pathways.

Results

Seven of 35 (20%) undifferentiated BUC showed expression of TROP-2. NECTIN-4 was expressed in 10 cases (29%). Seven cases (20%) co-expressed TROP-2 and NECTIN-4. HER-2 FISH was amplified in 5 cases (14%) while HER-2 immunoexpression was observed in 14 cases (40%). PD-L1 scored positive for combined proportion score (CPS) in 66% of cases and for tumor proportion score (TPS) in 51% of cases. Pan-NTRK1-2/3 was elevated in 9 cases (26%) and FGFR-2/3 was broken in 7 of 35 cases (20%). Of 28 sarcomatoid BUC, 9 (32%) were negative for all (TROP-2, NECTIN-4, PD-L1, HER-2, FGFR and pan-NTRK) biomarkers and 3 (11%) expressed all five biomarkers. Among cases with rhabdoid dedifferentiation, 1 of 7 (14%) showed activation of all biomarkers, whereas 2 of 7 (28%) showed none. The mRNA analysis identified microtubule-related genes and pathways suitable for combined ADC treatments in BUC.

Conclusion

Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid BUC do harbor positive expression of the ADC targets TROP-2 or NECTIN-4 in a relatively modest subset of cases, whereas the majority do not. Different combinations of other positive biomarkers may help the choice of medical therapies. Overall, these findings have important clinical implications for targeted therapy for BUC.

Avelumab First-line Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma: Comprehensive Clinical Subgroup Analyses from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 Phase 3 Trial

BACKGROUND

In the phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial, avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance + best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) who were progression-free following 1L platinum-based chemotherapy, leading to regulatory approval in various countries.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze clinically relevant subgroups from JAVELIN Bladder 100.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC without progression on 1L gemcitabine + cisplatin or carboplatin were randomized to receive avelumab + BSC (n = 350) or BSC alone (n = 350). Median follow-up was >19 mo in both arms (data cutoff October 21, 2019). This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02603432.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

OS (primary endpoint) and PFS were analyzed in protocol-specified and post hoc subgroups using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Hazard ratios (HRs) for OS with avelumab + BSC versus BSC alone were <1.0 across all subgroups examined, including patients treated with 1L cisplatin + gemcitabine (HR 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.93) or carboplatin + gemcitabine (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46-0.90), patients with PD-L1+ tumors treated with carboplatin + gemcitabine (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.39-1.14), and patients whose best response to chemotherapy was a complete response (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.46-1.37), partial response (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.84), or stable disease (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.46-1.06). Observations were similar for PFS. Limitations include the smaller size and post hoc evaluation without multiplicity adjustment for some subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses of OS and PFS in clinically relevant subgroups were consistent with results for the overall population, further supporting avelumab 1L maintenance as standard-of-care treatment for patients with aUC who are progression-free following 1L platinum-based chemotherapy.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In the JAVELIN Bladder 100 study, maintenance treatment with avelumab helped many different groups of people with advanced cancer of the urinary tract to live longer.

Avelumab First-Line Maintenance for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma: Results From the JAVELIN Bladder 100 Trial After ≥2 Years of Follow-Up

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned coprimary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical trial updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.Initial results from the phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02603432) showed that avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance plus best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) who were progression-free after 1L platinum-containing chemotherapy. Avelumab 1L maintenance treatment is now a standard of care for aUC. Here, we report updated data with ≥ 2 years of follow-up in all patients, including OS (primary end point), PFS, safety, and additional novel analyses. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive avelumab plus BSC (n = 350) or BSC alone (n = 350). At data cutoff (June 4, 2021), median follow-up was 38.0 months and 39.6 months, respectively; 67 patients (19.5%) had received ≥2 years of avelumab treatment. OS remained longer with avelumab plus BSC versus BSC alone in all patients (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.63 to 0.91]; 2-sided P = .0036). Investigator-assessed PFS analyses also favored avelumab. Longer-term safety was consistent with previous analyses; no new safety signals were identified with longer treatment duration. In conclusion, longer-term follow-up continues to show clinically meaningful efficacy benefits with avelumab 1L maintenance plus BSC versus BSC alone in patients with aUC. An interactive visualization of data reported in this article is available.

Patient-reported Outcomes from JAVELIN Bladder 100: Avelumab First-line Maintenance Plus Best Supportive Care Versus Best Supportive Care Alone for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In JAVELIN Bladder 100, avelumab first-line maintenance plus best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS; primary endpoint) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) without disease progression with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with avelumab plus BSC versus BSC alone.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A randomized phase 3 trial (NCT02603432) was conducted in 700 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had not progressed with first-line gemcitabine plus cisplatin or carboplatin. PROs were a secondary endpoint.

INTERVENTION

Avelumab plus BSC (n = 350) or BSC alone (n = 350).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

National Comprehensive Cancer Network/Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Bladder Symptom Index-18 (FBlSI-18) and EuroQol five-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) assessments were analyzed using descriptive statistics and mixed-effect models. Time to deterioration (TTD; prespecified definition: a ≥3-point decrease from baseline in the FBlSI-18 disease-related symptoms-physical subscale for two consecutive assessments) was evaluated via Kaplan-Meier analyses.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Completion rates for scheduled on-treatment PRO assessments were >90% (overall and average per assessment). Results from descriptive analyses and mixed-effect or repeated-measures models of FBlSI-18 and EQ-5D-5L were similar between arms. TTD was also similar, both in the prespecified analysis (hazard ratio 1.26 [95% confidence interval: 0.90, 1.77]) and in the post hoc analyses including off-treatment assessments and different event definitions. Limitations included the open-label design and limited numbers of evaluable patients at later time points.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of avelumab first-line maintenance to BSC in patients with aUC that had not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy prolonged OS, with a relatively minimal effect on quality of life.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this trial of people with advanced urothelial carcinoma who had benefited from first-line chemotherapy (ie, had stable disease or reduced tumor size), treatment with avelumab maintenance plus best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone improved survival significantly, without compromising quality of life, as reported by the patients themselves.

Safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab/axitinib combination in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): A multicentric prospective analysis (ProPAXI study)

688

Background: Pembrolizumab/axitinib (PAXI) combination is an approved option as first-line therapy of mRCC. The aim of this analysis is to evaluate safety profile of PAXI combo in the real-world experience in Italy. Methods: This is a prospective study including patients (pts) diagnosed with mRCC who received PAXI as first-line therapy in recruiting Italian Centers. Safety data about clinically significant adverse events (AEs), defined as AE requiring corticosteroids, hormone replacement, drug delay, discontinuation or dose reduction were collected. Results: Data from 122 pts treated from January 2021 to September 2022 have been analyzed. With a median follow-up of 10 mos (range 0.2 - 21) and treatment interruption in 35 pts (29%), at landmark 6-mos and 12-mos the treatment was ongoing in 76% (95%CI 0.67-0.83) and 66% of pts (95%CI 0.56-0.75) respectively. In 11% of pts a starting dose of Axi <5mg was reported (8% higher starting dose). 2% of pts experienced Axi dose titration while 37% of pts had a dose reduction. Pts completed a mean of 10 (1 - 31) cycles of Pembro. Toxicity led to treatment discontinuation in 20% (7/35) of cases. Clinically significant AEs occurred in 61% of pts (74), managed with corticosteroids use in 32% (24/74) of pts, hormone replacement (mainly levothyroxine) in 11% (8/74), drug delay in 64% (47/74), discontinuation in 41% (30/74) or dose reduction 18% (13/74). When required, the most used steroid was prednisone (48%) following by dexamethasone (22%), prednisolone (17%), methylprednisolone (13%). Grade 3-4 clinically significant AEs occurred in 25% (18) and 3% (2) of pts respectively, with hepatic injury 33% (6/18) and hypertension 17% (3/18) as the most common reported G3 events. The two G4 AEs reported were pancreatitis and hepatic injury. No treatment-related deaths emerged. In 20% of cases AE were related to Pembro and in 47% of cases to Axi, in 14% to both drugs. In 28% of pts (34/122) a second clinically significant AE occurred, requiring corticosteroids 27% (9/34), hormone replacement 9% (3/34), drug delay 59% (20/34), discontinuation 41% (14/34) or dose reduction 21% (7/34). Grade-3 clinically significant AEs occurred in 29%, with hepatic injury and hypertension (both 3 pts) as the most common events. No grade 4 AEs were reported. The second AE in 21% of cases was related to Pembro and in 59% of cases to Axi, in (9%) to both drugs. Conclusions: PAXI combination had a tolerable safety profile in mRCC, with few high-grade clinically significant AEs, no new toxicities were identified.

Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC: A Pooled Analysis of CheckMate 227, CheckMate 568, and CheckMate 817

INTRODUCTION

We characterized the safety of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) in a large patient population with metastatic NSCLC and efficacy outcomes after NIVO+IPI discontinuation owing to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs).

METHODS

We pooled data from three first-line NIVO+IPI studies (NIVO, 3 mg/kg or 240 mg every 2 wk; IPI, 1 mg/kg every 6 wk) in metastatic NSCLC (CheckMate 227 part 1, CheckMate 817 cohort A, CheckMate 568 part 1). Safety end points included TRAEs and immune-mediated adverse events (IMAEs) in the pooled population and patients aged 75 years or older.

RESULTS

In the pooled population (N = 1255), any-grade TRAEs occurred in 78% of the patients, grade 3 or 4 TRAEs in 34%, and discontinuation of any regimen component owing to TRAEs in 21%. The most frequent TRAE and IMAE were diarrhea (20%; grade 3 or 4, 2%) and rash (17%; grade 3 or 4, 3%), respectively. The most common grade 3 or 4 IMAEs were hepatitis (5%) and diarrhea/colitis and pneumonitis (4% each). Pneumonitis was the most common cause of treatment-related death (5 of 16). Safety in patients aged 75 years or older (n = 174) was generally similar to the overall population, but discontinuation of any regimen component owing to TRAEs was more common (29%). In patients discontinuing NIVO+IPI owing to TRAEs (n = 225), 3-year overall survival was 50% (95% confidence interval: 42.6-56.0), and 42% (31.2-52.4) of 130 responders remained in response 2 years after discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

First-line NIVO+IPI was well tolerated in this large population with metastatic NSCLC and in patients aged 75 years or older. Discontinuation owing to TRAEs did not reduce long-term survival.

First-line avelumab for patients with PD-L1-positive metastatic or locally advanced urothelial cancer who are unfit for cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the most recommended treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). However, about 50% of patients are considered to be cisplatin ineligible. Anti-PD1/PD-L1 therapies have, nevertheless, increased the options available to clinicians and are especially valuable for treating these patients. This study therefore tested the activity and safety of avelumab as first-line therapy for mUC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with mUC who were ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy were screened centrally for PD-L1 expression and only those with a tumour proportion score (TPS) ≥5% were enrolled in the trial. The primary endpoint was 1-year overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were median OS, median PFS, the ORR, the duration of the response, safety, and tolerability. All the survival rates were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier product-limit methodology and compared across groups using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

198 patients were screened, with 71 (35.9%) whose PD-L1 expression was ≥5% enrolled in the study. The median age was 75 years, bladder cancer was the primary tumour in 73.2% of cases, and 25.3% had liver metastases. The main reasons for the cisplatin ineligibility were a low rate of creatinine clearance (< 60 ml/min), present in 70.4% of patients, and an ECOG performance status of 2, which affected 31%. The median OS was 10.0 months (95% CI, 5.5-14.5) and 43% of patients were alive at one year. A complete response was achieved in 8.5% of cases and 15.5% had a partial response. Adverse any-grade and high-grade events occurred in 49.3% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. A grade 3 infusion reaction was the only high-grade treatment-related adverse event. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This ARIES trial confirmed the activity and safety of avelumab for treating mUC, adding a new therapy option to the armamentarium of checkpoint inhibitors already approved for platinum-ineligible, locally advanced/mUC.

Plain language summary of results from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 study: avelumab maintenance treatment for advanced urothelial cancer

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?

This is a plain language summary of an article originally published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It is about initial results (collected in October 2019) from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 study (a clinical trial), which looked at avelumab maintenance treatment in people with advanced urothelial cancer. Urothelial cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer. People with advanced urothelial cancer often receive chemotherapy. If this is the first treatment people with advanced disease are given, it is called first-line treatment. If the cancer stops growing or shrinks with first-line chemotherapy, people can be given different treatment to try to prevent the cancer from growing again. This is called maintenance treatment. It may help people live longer.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE JAVELIN BLADDER 100 STUDY?

In the JAVELIN Bladder 100 study, researchers wanted to find out if maintenance treatment with avelumab would help people with advanced urothelial cancer live longer. Avelumab is a type of medicine called immunotherapy. Immunotherapy helps the body's immune system fight cancer. 700 people took part in the study. To take part, they must have already been treated with first-line chemotherapy. Also, their cancer must have shrunk or not grown with this treatment. They were then treated with either avelumab maintenance treatment plus best supportive care or best supportive care alone. Best supportive care means treatments that help improve symptoms and quality of life. These treatments do not affect the cancer directly and can include medicines to relieve pain.

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?

Researchers found that people treated with avelumab maintenance treatment plus best supportive care lived, on average, 7 months longer than people who received best supportive care alone. People treated with avelumab had more side effects than those not treated with avelumab, but most were not severe. Common side effects with avelumab included persistent tiredness, itchy skin, urinary tract infection, and diarrhea.

WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY MEAN?

Results from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 study support the use of avelumab as maintenance treatment for people with advanced urothelial cancer whose cancer has shrunk or not grown with first-line chemotherapy. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT number: NCT02603432.

Avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC): Long-term outcomes from JAVELIN Bladder 100 in subgroups defined by response to 1L chemotherapy

4559

Background: In the phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (NCT02603432), avelumab 1L maintenance + best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) vs BSC alone in patients (pts) with aUC that had not progressed with 1L platinum-based chemotherapy. We report exploratory analyses in subgroups defined by response to 1L chemotherapy (complete response [CR], partial response [PR], or stable disease [SD]) after ≥2 years of follow-up. Methods: Eligible pts had unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC without progression with 4-6 cycles of 1L gemcitabine + cisplatin or carboplatin. Pts were randomized 1:1 to receive avelumab + BSC (n = 350) or BSC alone (n = 350), stratified by best response to 1L chemotherapy (CR/PR vs SD) and visceral vs nonvisceral disease at start of 1L chemotherapy. Results: At data cutoff (June 4, 2021), median follow-up in both arms was ≥38 months. OS and PFS were longer in the avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone arm in all subgroups (Table). Median duration of study treatment and incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in subgroups are shown in the Table. In the avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone arm, respectively, subsequent second-line anticancer drug therapy was received by: CR subgroup, 50.0% vs 74.2%; PR subgroup, 58.3% vs 71.8%; and SD subgroup, 46.4% vs 70.4%. Conclusions: Long-term follow-up from JAVELIN Bladder 100 continues to show prolonged OS and PFS with avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone irrespective of response (CR, PR, or SD) to 1L chemotherapy and despite a higher proportion of pts in the BSC alone arm receiving subsequent therapy. Long-term safety was consistent across subgroups. These findings further support avelumab 1L maintenance as standard of care for all pts with aUC that has not progressed with 1L platinum-based chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02603432. [Table: see text]

Patterns of progression of patients with high-volume metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer treated with early docetaxel chemotherapy: The LONGITUDE observational study

107

Background: In patients (pts) with high-volume (HV) metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) the addition of six cycles of docetaxel (TXT) to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the CHAARTED and STAMPEDE trials prolonged survival by 10-18 months (mo). Aim of our study was to evaluate the principal patterns of relapse after TXT and their clinical and prognostic significance. Methods: We conducted a multicentric (14 Italian Centers), prospective, observational study enrolling HV mCSPC patients treated with ADT plus early TXT. Clinical and pathological features were recorded. Time to castration resistance (TCR) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The Chi-Square test, t-test or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test were used to assess difference between the groups as appropriate. Results: We identified 166 de novo mCSPC pts, with a median age of 64 years (range 38-84). The most common metastatic sites at diagnosis were: bone (93%) and lymph nodes (81%); visceral disease (lung and liver) was present in 36% of cases. 87% of pts had good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (0-1), the median baseline PSA was 359 ng/ml (range 2.64-5800) and 43% experienced cancer pain. 87% of 158 evaluable pts had a Grade Group (GG) ³4. The majority of pts (81%) completed six cycles of TXT. The median time to PSA nadir was 10.2 months (mo), PSA response > 50% was achieved in 96% of pts and the most common best response reported was partial response (58%). At the time of this analysis, 122 pts (67%) had biochemical or radiographic progressive disease (PD) to TXT and 67 of these (60%) developing new metastatic sites (NMS). No differences with respect of main clinical features was found between NMS pts and nonNMS, with the exception of GG (96% of NMS pts had GG 4-5 vs 74% of nonNMS; p = 0.002). In NMS group we found a higher rate of nodal PD (52% vs 22%, p = 0.001) and higher rate of bone PD (73% vs 47%, p = 0.005) compared to nonNMS. No differences in the rate of visceral PD. With a median follow-up of 27.9 mo, the median TCR was 14.3 mo (95%CI 12.8-16.7), without significant differences between NMS and nonNMS groups. About 90% of progressed pts received first-line treatment for mCRPC disease with similar outcomes. The median OS was 41.8 mo for the overall population, with not significant differences between NMS and nonNMS groups (22 mo and 25 mo). Overall, median OS from mCRPC diagnosis was 19.6 mo, similar in NMS and no-NMS pts (10 mo and 12 mo). Conclusions: In progressive mCSPC pts receiving early TXT, we observed more frequently the development of NMS with an elevated GG and a trophism for bone and lymph nodes. However, the NMS progression does not seem to have a prognostic role. An extended follow up and the prospective data will be provided.

First line avelumab in PD-L1+ve metastatic or locally advanced urothelial cancer (aUC) patients unfit for cisplatin (cis): The ARIES trial

439

Background: Avelumab (ave) was approved as maintenance therapy after platinum-based first line (1L) therapy for patients (pts) with aUC based on ph. 3 Javelin Bladder 100 study (NCT02603432), showing significant overall survival (OS) improvement. Here we tested the activity of ave as 1L of therapy in cis-unfit pts with aUC and PD-L1+ve expression. Methods: ARIES is a single-arm, multi-site, open-label phase II trial. Enrolled pts had aUC, were cis-unfit (at least one of: ECOG-PS = 2, CrCl < 60 mL/min, grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy/hearing loss, progression within 6-mos before the end of neo/adj chemo), had not previously received chemo for aUC and PD-L1≥5% (SP263) centrally assessed. Pts received ave 10 mg/Kg IV Q2W until progression, unacceptable toxicity and withdrawal, whichever occurred first. The primary endpoint was the 1-year OS. Key secondary endpoints were median-OS, -PFS, ORR and safety. Results: A total of 198 eligible cis-unfit pts have been tested for PD-L1 and 71 (35.6%) have been found positive. Among enrolled patients (N = 71), median age was 75 y, 35 (49.3%) had visceral disease, and 22 (31.0%) had ECOG-PS = 2; 50 (70.4%) had CrCl < 60 mL/min and 9 (12.7%) progressed within 6-mos from the end of neo/adj chemo. At the cut-off data (Oct 7, 2021), median follow up was 9.0 mo and 13 patients are still on treatment. The median OS was 10.0 mos (95% CI, 5.7-14.3), and 40.8% of patients were alive at 1-year. The ORR for all patients was 22.5%; complete response, 1.4% (n = 1); partial response, 21.1% (n = 15). Clinical benefit was 43.6% (n = 31). Median PFS was 2.0 mos (95% CI, 1.4-2.6). Among the 56 pts who received at least 3 cycles (29 days) of therapy the median OS was 16.0 vs 1.0 mos. Five (7.0%) grade 3 ave-related adverse events, and no treatment-related death were reported. Conclusions: Ave is active and safe in pts with cis-unfit, PD-L1+ve aUC and poor baseline characteristics. Clinical trial information: NCT03891238.

Urothelial carcinoma with sarcomatoid variant: A preliminary study of clinical and pathological features

571

Background: Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) with sarcomatoid variant (SV) (SV-UC) occurs in 0.1-0.3% of UC cases, and has been related with worse prognosis. Due to rarity of SV-UC, there are still limited evidences about the predictive role of sarcomatoid differentiation and no agents has been tested for SV-UC. We aim to investigate clinical and pathology features of SV-UC in a high grade UC (HG-UC) patients (pts) cohort. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on pts with HG-UC referring to our center between December 2012 and June 2021. Pts were reviewed for availability of histological tumor samples to evaluate the presence of SV. The expression of PD-L1 was evaluated in SV-UC sample by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using Ventana (SP263) assay. An IHC expression > 5% was considered positive. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The Chi-Square test, t-test or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test were used to assess difference between the groups as appropriate. Results: A cohort of 73 HG-UC pts were analyzed and a total of 6 SV-UC has been identified (8.2%). Two cases (2.7%) presented both SV and rhabdoid features. The median age at diagnosis was 69 years (54-81). SV-UC occurs equally in male and female (50%) vs 9% of affected female in HG-UC group (p = 0.02). Of four patients experiencing a metastatic disease (67%), two were metastatic at diagnosis (33%). One patient had an upper tract UC (17%), while remaining samples originated from bladder. Of note, in 4/6 of pts (67%) a squamous histology was reported (vs 10.5% in HG-UC group; p = 0.1). SV was found in > 30% of tissue sample in 4/6 cases, 15% in one case, undefined in the remaining one. The PD-L1 expression in SV-UC tissues was > 50% in 5/6 of cases (83%), negative in the remaining one ( < 5%). All pts in SV-UC group had advanced stage of desease: 4/6 had pT3 stage (67%), 2/6 had pT4 stage (33%) and 4/6 had positive loco-regional lymph nodes. All SV-UC pts had local recurrence. Four pts with metastatic desease were treated with chemotherapy, and 3 received also immunotherapy. The majority of treated pts (2/3) achieved progression as best first line response (22% in HG-UC). With a median follow up of 33 months (range 2-110), median PFS was 1.3 and 6.3 months (HR 0.51, 95%CI 0.11-2.17, P = 0.36) and median OS was 8.9 vs 20.3 months in SV-UC and HG-UC group, respectively (HR 0.51, 95%CI 0.11-2.17, P = 0.36). Conclusions: This analysis explored incidence and clinico-pathologic features of SV in pts with HG-UC, identifying an often underestimated subpopulation. Compared to HG-UC, SV-UC appears to be associated with lower M:F ratio, squamous histology, advanced disease and higher PD-L1 expression. Our initial results confirmed an association with shorter PFS and OS. The major limitation of our series is the small number of cases, a larger study is already planned.

Avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC): Long-term follow-up results from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial

487

Background: The phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (NCT02603432) showed significantly longer overall survival (OS) with avelumab + best supportive care (BSC) vs BSC alone in patients (pts) with advanced UC that had not progressed with 1L platinum-containing chemotherapy. Avelumab 1L maintenance is now considered standard of care in treatment guidelines. We report trial data with ≥2-years follow-up in all pts (additional 19 months from the initial analysis). Methods: Pts with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC without disease progression with 4-6 cycles of 1L gemcitabine + cisplatin or carboplatin were randomized 1:1 to receive avelumab + BSC or BSC alone. The primary endpoint was OS, assessed from randomization in all pts and in pts with PD-L1+ tumors (Ventana SP263 assay). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. Results: 700 pts were randomized (350 per arm); 358 (51.1%) had PD-L1+ tumors. With extended follow-up (median, ≥38 months in both arms for all pts; data cutoff, June 4, 2021), OS remained significantly longer in the avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone arm in all randomized pts and in pts with PD-L1+ tumors (Table). An OS benefit was observed across prespecified subgroups. PFS (by investigator) was longer with avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone in all randomized pts and in pts with PD-L1+ tumors (Table). In the avelumab + BSC and BSC alone arms, respectively, 185 (52.9%) vs 252 (72.0%) pts received a subsequent anticancer drug therapy, including a PD-(L)1 inhibitor in 40 (11.4%) vs 186 (53.1%) pts. Long-term safety was consistent with previous avelumab monotherapy studies, with no new safety signals. Conclusions: Long-term follow-up from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial continues to show prolonged OS with avelumab + BSC vs BSC alone. These results further support the standard-of-care role for avelumab as 1L maintenance in pts with advanced UC that has not progressed with 1L platinum-containing chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02603432. [Table: see text]

Nectin-4 and DNA mismatch repair proteins expression in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) as a model for tumor targeting approaches: an ImGO pilot study

BACKGROUND

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for only about 5-10% of all urothelial cancers and is characterized by an aggressive and frequently rapidly fatal behavior. However, detailed knowledge of its molecular profile is still lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified, by chart analysis, patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy or diagnostic biopsy for UTUC between January 2015 and August 2020 at the Santa Maria Hospital of Terni, in Italy. Eligible patients were required to have also adequate clinical informations and follow-up details. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and Nectin-4 immunohistochemical expression in UTUC, looking also for an eventual correlation between these molecular features. The secondary objective was to investigate genomic instability in the case of a MMR protein loss. Expression of proteins was assessed by using immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability (MSI) performed by next generation sequencing. Nectin-4 expression was reported using an intensity scoring system (score, 0-3+), instead the expression of DNA MMR proteins was indicated as present (no loss) or not present (loss).

RESULTS

Thirty four cases have been evaluated and 27 considered eligible for the study with their tumor samples analyzed. Nectin-4 was found to be expressed in 44% of cases and 18.5% of patients showed defective-MMR phenotype. We found a significant correlation between Nectin-4 expression and MSH2/MSH6 protein loss. Out of 7 patients with DNA MMR proteins loss or equivocal phenotype, 3 showed MSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot study suggest a possible relationship between Nectin-4 and DNA MMR protein expression in UTUC and a clinically significant correlation between defective MMR phenotype and genomic instability. Because of the possible implications of these data for innovative treatment approaches, the need for further studies in this area is warranted.

Analysis by region of outcomes for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with cabozantinib or everolimus: a sub-analysis of the METEOR study

Introduction:

METEOR was a phase 3 trial (NCT01865747) of cabozantinib versus everolimus in adults with advanced or metastatic clear cell RCC previously treated with VEGF receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This post hoc analysis of METEOR compared outcomes for patients recruited from European and non-European countries.

Material and methods:

Adults with advanced/metastatic clear cell RCC who had received ≥ 1 prior VEGFR-TKI treatment were randomized 1:1 to receive cabozantinib or everolimus. Patients were categorized by recruitment region: Europe or outside of Europe (rest of world [RoW]). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs) were compared between regional subgroups.

Results:

In total, there were 320 eligible patients from Europe (cabozantinib, 167; everolimus, 153) and 338 from RoW (North America, 240 patients; Asia-Pacific, 86; Latin America, 12; randomized as cabozantinib, 163; everolimus, 175). PFS and OS were longer with cabozantinib than with everolimus and similar for the Europe and RoW subgroups. For PFS, the hazard ratio (HR) for cabozantinib versus everolimus was 0.54 for the Europe subgroup (p < .001) and 0.50 for the RoW subgroup (p < .001). For OS, the HR was 0.75 for the Europe subgroup (p = .034) and 0.69 for the RoW subgroup (p = .006). ORR in the Europe subgroup was 15% for cabozantinib and 3.9% for everolimus (p < .001). For the RoW subgroup, ORR was 20% for cabozantinib and 2.9% for everolimus (p < .001). Incidence of grade 3/4 AEs were similar for the Europe (cabozantinib, 74%; everolimus, 58%) and RoW subgroups (cabozantinib, 69%; everolimus, 64%).

Conclusion:

In the METEOR trial, efficacy outcomes for patients recruited from European and non-European countries favored cabozantinib over everolimus. The efficacy and safety results for the regional subgroups were consistent with those of the overall METEOR population.

First-line pazopanib in patients with advanced non-clear cell renal carcinoma: An Italian case series

BACKGROUND

Non-clear cell (ncc) metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) has dismal results with standard systemic therapies and a generally worse prognosis when compared to its clear-cell counterpart. New systemic combination therapies have emerged for metastatic RCC (mRCC), but the pivotal phase III trials excluded patients with nccRCC, which constitute about 30% of metastatic RCC cases.

AIM

To provide a piece of real-life evidence on the use of pazopanib in this patient subgroup.

METHODS

The present study is a multicenter retrospective observational analysis aiming to assess the activity, efficacy, and safety of pazopanib as first-line therapy for advanced nccRCC patients treated in a real-life setting.

RESULTS

Overall, 48 patients were included. At the median follow-up of 40.6 mo, the objective response rate was 27.1%, the disease control rate was 83.3%, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 12.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6-20.9) and 27.7 (95%CI: 18.2-37.1) mo, respectively. Grade 3 adverse events occurred in 20% of patients, and no grade 4 or 5 toxicities were found.

CONCLUSION

Pazopanib should be considered as a good first-line option for metastatic RCC with variant histology.

Combination Therapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma: the Best Choice for Every Patient?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Therapeutic alternatives to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are increasing, and combination therapies, including antiangiogenic agents and tyrosine kinase/mTOR/immune checkpoint inhibitors, are identified as the gold standard driven by the results of recent clinical studies. Nevertheless, the real-world RCC population is very heterogeneous, with categories of patients not represented in the enrolled trial population who may not benefit more from these treatments. The purpose of this expert review is to assess the rationale on which tyrosine kinase alone may still be a viable first-line treatment option for some subgroups of patients with mRCC.

RECENT FINDINGS

The first-line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor monotherapy can still be considered an effective tool for addressing selected mRCCs, as highlighted by the successful outcome in a range of subjects such as favorable-risk patients, the ones suffering from autoimmune diseases, those with pancreatic or lung metastases, or previously undergoing organ transplantation and elderly subjects. Some selected categories of patients may still benefit from monotherapy with TKI, and smart sequential therapies can also be considered instead of a combination strategy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors can also act as immune modulator agents, boosting the immune response to facilitate and potentiate the therapeutic effectiveness of subsequent immunotherapy.

First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced NSCLC: 4-Year Outcomes From the Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 CheckMate 227 Part 1 Trial

INTRODUCTION

In CheckMate 227, nivolumab plus ipilimumab prolonged overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy in patients with tumor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) greater than or equal to 1% (primary end point) or less than 1% (prespecified descriptive analysis). We report results with minimum 4 years' follow-up.

METHODS

Adults with previously untreated stage IV or recurrent NSCLC were randomized (1:1:1) to nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab, or chemotherapy (PD-L1 ≥1%); or to nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy (PD-L1 <1%). Efficacy included OS and other measures. Safety included timing and management of immune-mediated adverse events (AEs). A post hoc analysis evaluated efficacy in patients who discontinued nivolumab plus ipilimumab due to treatment-related AEs (TRAEs).

RESULTS

After 54.8 months' median follow-up, OS remained longer with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1 greater than or equal to 1% (hazard ratio = 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.65-0.90) and PD-L1 less than 1% (0.64; 0.51-0.81); 4-year OS rate with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy was 29% versus 18% (PD-L1 ≥1%); and 24% versus 10% (PD-L1 <1%). Benefits were observed in both squamous and nonsquamous histologies. In a descriptive analysis, efficacy was improved with nivolumab plus ipilimumab relative to nivolumab (PD-L1 ≥1%) and nivolumab plus chemotherapy (PD-L1 <1%). Safety was consistent with previous reports. The most common immune-mediated AE with nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab, and nivolumab plus chemotherapy was rash; most immune-mediated AEs (except endocrine events) occurred within 6 months from start of treatment and resolved within 3 months after, mainly with systemic corticosteroids. Patients who discontinued nivolumab plus ipilimumab due to TRAEs had long-term OS benefits, as seen in the all randomized population.

CONCLUSIONS

At more than 4 years' minimum follow-up, with all patients off immunotherapy treatment for at least 2 years, first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab continued to demonstrate durable long-term efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC. No new safety signals were identified. Immune-mediated AEs occurred early and resolved quickly with guideline-based management. Discontinuation of nivolumab plus ipilimumab due to TRAEs did not have a negative impact on the long-term benefits seen in all randomized patients.

Avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC): Analysis of clinical and genomic subgroups from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial

4520

Background: In the phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial, avelumab 1L maintenance + best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) vs BSC alone in patients (pts) with advanced UC that had not progressed on 1L platinum-based chemotherapy (HR, 0.69 [95% CI: 0.56, 0.86; 1-sided P= 0.0005]). We report post hoc analyses in previously unreported clinical and genomic subgroups. Methods: In JAVELIN Bladder 100 (NCT02603432), eligible pts had unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC without progression after 4-6 cycles of 1L gemcitabine + cisplatin or carboplatin, and were randomized to receive avelumab + BSC (n = 350) or BSC alone (n = 350). The primary endpoint was OS, in all randomized pts and pts with PD-L1+ tumors (Ventana SP263 assay). In this exploratory analysis, we analyzed OS in disease stage and site subgroups, in pts with PD-L1+ tumors who received 1L gemcitabine + carboplatin, and in genomic subtypes (RNAseq whole-transcriptome profiling of tumor tissue) defined using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA 2017). Interaction tests were not performed. Results: Prolonged OS was observed in the avelumab + BSC arm vs the BSC alone arm in pts with upper or lower tract tumors, metastatic or locally advanced (LA) and unresectable disease (prior to chemotherapy), and lymph node-only disease post-chemotherapy (Table). OS was also prolonged with avelumab + BSC in pts in PD-L1+ tumors who had received 1L gemcitabine + carboplatin, consistent with findings in the overall population. In genomic subtypes, the OS benefit for avelumab + BSC was apparent across TCGA subtypes except luminal. Conclusions: An OS benefit was seen for avelumab 1L maintenance + BSC vs BSC alone across subgroups of interest. Results are consistent with previously reported findings, further supporting avelumab 1L maintenance as a standard of care for pts with advanced UC that has not progressed with 1L platinum-containing chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02603432. [Table: see text]

Immune-inflammatory biomarkers as prognostic factors for immunotherapy in pretreated advanced urinary tract cancer patients: an analysis of the Italian SAUL cohort

Background

Reliable and affordable prognostic and predictive biomarkers for urothelial carcinoma treated with immunotherapy may allow patients' outcome stratification and drive therapeutic options. The SAUL trial investigated the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab in a real-world setting on 1004 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who progressed to one to three prior systemic therapies.

Patients and methods

Using the SAUL Italian cohort of 267 patients, we investigated the prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the best performing one of these in combination with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) with or without lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Previously reported cut-offs (NLR >3 and NLR >5; SII >1375) in addition to study-defined ones derived from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used.

Results

The cut-off values for NLR and SII by the ROC analysis were 3.65 (sensitivity 60.4; specificity 63.0) and 884 (sensitivity 64.4; specificity 67.5), respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 14.7 months for NLR <3.65 [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.9-not reached (NR)] versus 6.0 months for NLR ≥3.65 (95% CI 3.9-9.4); 14.7 months for SII <884 (95% CI 10.6-NR) versus 6.0 months for SII ≥884 (95% CI 3.7-8.6). The combination of SII, PD-L1, and LDH stratified OS better than SII plus PD-L1 through better identification of patients with intermediate prognosis (77% versus 48%, respectively). Multivariate analyses confirmed significant correlations with OS and progression-free survival for both the SII + PD-L1 + LDH and SII + PD-L1 combinations.

Conclusion

The combination of immune-inflammatory biomarkers based on SII, PD-L1, with or without LDH is a potentially useful and easy-to-assess prognostic tool deserving validation to identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy alone or alternative therapies.

•

Reliable biomarkers for immunotherapy may assist in treatment decision making and clinical trial design and interpretation.

•

Immune-inflammatory biomarkers were investigated for their prognostic role within the Italian SAUL study cohort.

•

ROC-based cut-offs were 3.65 for NLR and 884 for SII.

•

Both NLR and SII were prognostic with SII performing slightly better than NLR.

•

The combination of SII, PD-L1, and LDH stratified OS better than SII + PD-L1; both were independent prognostic factors.

Avelumab Maintenance Therapy for Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Platinum-based chemotherapy is standard-of-care first-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma. However, progression-free survival and overall survival are limited by chemotherapy resistance.

METHODS

In a phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who did not have disease progression with first-line chemotherapy (four to six cycles of gemcitabine plus cisplatin or carboplatin) to receive best supportive care with or without maintenance avelumab. The primary end point was overall survival, assessed among all patients who underwent randomization (overall population) and among those with tumors positive for programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Secondary end points included progression-free survival and safety.

RESULTS

Among all 700 patients who underwent randomization, the addition of maintenance avelumab to best supportive care significantly prolonged overall survival as compared with best supportive care alone (control). Overall survival at 1 year was 71.3% in the avelumab group and 58.4% in the control group (median overall survival, 21.4 months vs. 14.3 months; hazard ratio for death, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56 to 0.86; P = 0.001). Avelumab also significantly prolonged overall survival in the PD-L1-positive population; overall survival at 1 year was 79.1% in the avelumab group and 60.4% in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.79; P<0.001). The median progression-free survival was 3.7 months in the avelumab group and 2.0 months in the control group in the overall population (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.75) and 5.7 months and 2.1 months, respectively, in the PD-L1-positive population (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.73). The incidence of adverse events from any cause was 98.0% in the avelumab group and 77.7% in the control group; the incidence of adverse events of grade 3 or higher was 47.4% and 25.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintenance avelumab plus best supportive care significantly prolonged overall survival, as compared with best supportive care alone, among patients with urothelial cancer who had disease that had not progressed with first-line chemotherapy. (Funded by Pfizer and Merck [Darmstadt, Germany]; JAVELIN Bladder 100 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02603432.).

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.

Seroepidemiology of HEV and HAV in two populations with different socio-economic levels and hygienic/sanitary conditions

The epidemiological scenarios of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections have changed in the last few decades, but precise epidemiological data on the prevalence of anti-HEV and anti-HAV, alone or in combination, in the general population are scanty. We investigated HEV and HAV seroprevalence comparing two population samples living in Northern (Abbiategrasso, Milan) and Southern Italy (Cittanova, Reggio Calabria), the latter being characterized by a poorer socio-economic level and hygienic/sanitary conditions. Based on census records, we randomly enrolled and tested 3,365 subjects (Abbiategrasso, n = 2,489; Cittanova, n = 876) aged 18-75 years for anti-HAV and anti-HEV. Anti-HAV (71.3 % vs 52.5 %) and anti-HEV (17.8 % vs 9.0 %) prevalence rates were higher in Southern Italy (both p < 0.001). Most anti-HEV-positive subjects also had anti-HAV. Subjects testing positive for anti-HAV, alone or with anti-HEV, were older (p < 0.001 in both populations) and showed a trend toward declining prevalence in the youngest birth cohorts. The prevalence of subjects with a positive result for anti-HEV alone did not change in birth cohorts in the two towns. Detection of anti-HEV was independently associated with anti-HAV, town, birth cohort, and education level in multivariate analysis. Low socio-economic level and hygienic/sanitary conditions are associated with high HAV and HEV seroprevalence rates in Italy. Recent improvements, especially in the South, have led to a declining prevalence of anti-HAV, alone or with anti-HEV. Seroprevalence of HEV alone is uniformly low and does not change in birth cohorts born between 1938 and 1993.