Prognostic outcomes and safety in patients treated with pembrolizumab for advanced urothelial carcinoma: experience in real-world clinical practice

Efficacy and safety of adjuvant nivolumab after radical surgery for high-risk urothelial carcinoma: a preliminary report of real-world data from a single institution

BACKGROUND

The phase 3 CheckMate 274 trial demonstrated superiority of adjuvant nivolumab over placebo after radical surgery in patients with high-risk urothelial carcinoma (UC). However, real-world data on the efficacy and safety profile of adjuvant nivolumab in Japan have not been reported.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled patients with high-risk UC who received adjuvant nivolumab therapy following radical surgery between 2022 and 2024 at our institution. We evaluated immune-related adverse events (irAEs) according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients with high-risk UC receiving adjuvant nivolumab therapy following radical surgery were identified, and median follow-up was 11 months. Three patients experienced grade 3 irAEs, and 8 discontinued adjuvant nivolumab therapy due to irAEs. No grade 4 or 5 irAEs were observed. Eight patients have completed 1 year of treatment, and nine are currently on treatment. Nine patients had recurrences and one died of cancer. Of the nine patients with recurrences, six relapsed while on adjuvant nivolumab therapy, two relapsed after completing 1 year of treatment, and one relapsed after discontinuation of irAE. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 100% and 90%, respectively, and median OS was not reached. The 1- and 2-year DFS rates were 70% and 60%, respectively, and median DFS was 26 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant nivolumab appears to have some efficacy in Japanese patients. Since this is a postoperative adjuvant therapy, careful patient selection is warranted.

Prognostic Impact of Bone Metastasis in Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Treated With Durvalumab With or Without Tremelimumab in the DANUBE Study

INTRODUCTION

Bone metastases (BM) in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) may impact patient outcomes, but their independent effect with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is uncertain. We aimed to assess the impact of BM and PD-L1 status on outcomes in mUC patients treated with ICIs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This post hoc analysis of the DANUBE study included 1032 mUC patients treated with durvalumab (D), D + tremelimumab (T), or standard chemotherapy (SoC). Patients were categorized by BM status and assessed for median overall survival (mOS) and median progression-free survival (mPFS) stratified by PD-L1 expression and treatment arm.  RESULTS: Among all patients enrolled in the study, those with BM had a lower mOS than those with no BM (8.7 vs. 15.8 months; P < .0001). Patients with BM and high PD-L1 expression, treated with D or D + T, had numerically longer mOS than patients with BM and low PD-L1 expression. In contrast, in the chemotherapy arm, there was no difference in mOS for BM or no BM, based on PD-L1 expression. Patients with BM had shorter mPFS compared to no BM (2.6 vs. 5.4 months; P < .0001). The study is limited by its post hoc nature.

CONCLUSION

Presence of BM was associated with worse outcomes across treatment arms. Patients with BM and high PD-L1 expression treated with D or D + T had longer mOS, suggesting potential benefits of ICIs in this subgroup. Consideration of BM and PD-L1 status in treatment decisions for mUC patients receiving ICIs may improve clinical outcomes.

Peripheral blood cytokines and outcomes with immune checkpoint blockade: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Tumor-promoting inflammation and inflammatory cytokines are linked to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) resistance.Methods: We assessed the associations between pre-treatment Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels and on-treatment changes in IL-6, IL-8 and C-reactive protein (CRP) with ICB trial end points.Results: 27 studies representing 6,719 patients were included. Low pre-treatment IL-6 levels were associated with improved objective response rate (ORR) (odds ratio (OR) = 0.31 [0.18-0.55]) and better progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59 [0.48-0.72]) and overall survival (OS) [95% confidence interval (CI)] (HR = 0.42 [0.35-0.50]). Low pre-treatment IL-8 levels were associated with improved ORR (OR = 0.47 [0.36-0.61]) and better PFS (HR = 0.65 [0.58-0.74]) and OS (HR = 0.44 [0.39-0.51]). On-treatment decline in CRP was associated with improved ORR (OR = 0.18 [0.11-0.20]), PFS (HR = 0.40 [0.31-0.91]) and OS (HR = 0.48 [0.40-0.58]).Conclusion: Peripheral blood cytokines warrant further evaluation as enrichment and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for strategies targeting tumor-promoting inflammation.

Prognostic role of circulating cytokines and inflammation indexes for avelumab maintenance in metastatic urothelial carcinoma

Background

Avelumab maintenance after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy represents a cornerstone for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). However, identifying prognostic biomarkers is paramount for optimizing patients' benefits while minimizing toxicity. Cytokines represent circulating mediators of the complex interaction between cancer, the immune system, and inflammation. Inflammation, a hallmark of cancer, can be expressed by circulating factors. In different tumor subtypes, peripheral blood biomarkers, such as circulating cytokines, and systemic inflammatory indexes, have been addressed as potential prognostic factors for immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, their role in mUC still needs to be determined.

Methods

Between February 2021 and April 2023, we prospectively collected plasma cytokines and inflammation indexes in 28 patients with mUC before starting avelumab as first-line maintenance. The primary endpoint was the relationship between baseline cytokines and inflammatory indexes with the clinical benefit (CB), defined as the number of Responders. Secondary endpoints included the correlation of baseline cytokines and inflammatory indexes with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and the number and grade of immune-related adverse events.

Results

High pre-treatment levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2, and low levels of IL-6, IL-8, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic-inflammation index (SII) were associated with clinical benefit and longer survival. In the multivariate analysis, low IL-8, NLR, and SII levels maintained a positive prognostic value for OS.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that, in mUC patients receiving avelumab, pre-treatment levels of plasma cytokines and inflammatory indexes may serve as potential prognostic biomarkers for response and efficacy. In particular, patients with signs of pre-therapeutic inflammation showed a significantly lower response and survival to avelumab. On the contrary, low systemic inflammation and high levels of cytokines characterized responders and longer survivors.

Pre-first-line chemotherapy risk stratification for overall survival in advanced urothelial carcinoma in sequential therapy era

PURPOSE

To explore pre-treatment risk factors for overall survival (OS) in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients treated with first-line (1L) chemotherapy in sequential therapy (ST) era. Additionally, to evaluate the proportion of patients who were not able to undergo subsequent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy according to the subgroups stratified by the risk factors.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study was conducted. Metastatic or locally advanced UC patients treated between 2017 and 2022 were included. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression models were used to address OS.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fourteen patients treated with 1L chemotherapy were included in the study and 57 (18.2%) patients were not able to proceed to subsequent ICI therapy. Pre-chemotherapy risk factors for OS in 314 patients were ECOG-PS 1 or more, having no primary site resection, C-reactive protein (CRP) level of 3 mg/dL or more, and non-cisplatin-based regimen. Patients having 3 or 4 risk factors had higher risk for not being able to receive ST (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.001). As risk factors for OS in 230 patients who were able to receive ST, having no primary site resection, a neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio of 3 or more, and the presence of liver metastasis were identified.

CONCLUSION

We reported the risk factors for OS in advanced UC patients treated with 1L chemotherapy in ST era. Patients with high risk for OS may not be able to proceed to subsequent ICI therapy even in the ST era.

C-reactive protein (CRP) as a prognostic biomarker in patients with urothelial carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

C-reactive protein (CRP) may reflect a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment and could represent a biomarker to select patients with urothelial carcinoma more likely to benefit from therapies directed at modulating tumor-promoting inflammation. We performed a systematic review to evaluate survival outcomes based on pre-treatment CRP values in urothelial carcinoma. The hazard ratios (HRs) of survival such as overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between groups with high versus low CRP values were pooled by the random-effect model meta-analyses. Overall, 28 studies comprising 6789 patients were identified for meta-analyses. High CRP levels were associated with shorter OS (HR=1.96 [95% CI: 1.64-2.33], p < 0.01), particularly in advanced disease treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB, HR=1.78 [1.47-2.15], p < 0.01). Similar findings were observed in ICB-treated patients with PFS. These findings suggest that CRP could be an attractive biomarker to select patients with urothelial carcinoma for strategies seeking to modulate tumor-promoting inflammation.

Latest evidence on clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of advanced urothelial carcinoma in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors: a narrative review

The management of advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) urothelial carcinoma has been revolutionized since pembrolizumab was introduced in 2017. Several prognostic factors for advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab have been reported, including conventional parameters such as performance status and visceral (especially liver) metastasis, laboratory markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, sarcopenia, histological/genomic markers such as programmed cell death ligand 1 immunohistochemistry and tumor mutational burden, variant histology, immune-related adverse events, concomitant medications in relation to the gut microbiome, primary tumor site (bladder cancer versus upper tract urothelial carcinoma) and history/combination of radiotherapy. The survival time of advanced urothelial carcinoma has been significantly prolonged (or 'doubled' from 1 to 2 years) after the advent of pembrolizumab, which will be further improved with novel agents such as avelumab and enfortumab vedotin. This review summarizes the latest evidence on clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of advanced urothelial carcinoma in the contemporary era of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Tumor-associated neutrophils suppress CD8+ T cell immunity in urothelial bladder carcinoma through the COX-2/PGE2/IDO1 Axis

BACKGROUND

Many urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) patients don't respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, possibly due to tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) suppressing lymphocyte immune response.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis on the predictive value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in ICB response and investigated TANs' role in UBC. We used RNA-sequencing, HALO spatial analysis, single-cell RNA-sequencing, and flow cytometry to study the impacts of TANs and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on IDO1 expression. Animal experiments evaluated celecoxib's efficacy in targeting PGE2 synthesis.

RESULTS

Our analysis showed that higher TAN infiltration predicted worse outcomes in UBC patients receiving ICB therapy. Our research revealed that TANs promote IDO1 expression in cancer cells, resulting in immunosuppression. We also found that PGE2 synthesized by COX-2 in neutrophils played a key role in upregulating IDO1 in cancer cells. Animal experiments showed that targeting PGE2 synthesis in neutrophils with celecoxib enhanced the efficacy of ICB treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

TAN-secreted PGE2 upregulates IDO1, dampening T cell function in UBC. Celecoxib targeting of PGE2 synthesis represents a promising approach to enhance ICB efficacy in UBC.

Prognostic Factors of Platinum-Refractory Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Pembrolizumab

INTRODUCTION

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has significantly improved the prognosis of some patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC), but it does not provide high therapeutic efficacy in all patients. Therefore, identifying predictive biomarkers is crucial in determining which patients are candidates for ICI treatment. This study aimed to identify the predictors of ICI treatment response in patients with platinum-refractory advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab.

METHODS

Patients with platinum-refractory advanced UC who had received pembrolizumab at two hospitals in Japan were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify biomarkers for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were evaluable for this analysis. Their median age was 75 years, and the vast majority of the patients were male (85.4%). The objective response rate was 29.3%, with a median overall survival (OS) of 17.8 months. On multivariate analysis, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) ≥ 2 (HR = 6.33, p = 0.03) and a baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 3 (HR = 2.79, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with poor OS. Antibiotic exposure did not have a significant impact on either PFS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

ECOG-PS ≥ 2 and baseline NLR > 3 were independent risk factors for OS in patients with platinum-refractory advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab. Antibiotic exposure was not a predictor of ICI treatment response.

Significance of second progression-free survival in patients with advanced urothelial cancer who received platinum-based combination chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab

OBJECTIVES

The present study comprehensively investigated the significance of several factors reflecting the therapeutic effects of anticancer treatment on overall survival (OS) in advanced urothelial cancer (UC) patients receiving sequential systemic therapy.

METHODS

This study included 101 consecutive advanced UC patients who received first-line platinum-based combination chemotherapy followed by second-line pembrolizumab. The impacts of the following factors on OS in these patients were analyzed: responses to chemotherapy, responses to pembrolizumab, progression-free survival (PFS) with chemotherapy, PFS with pembrolizumab, and second PFS (PFS2).

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 71 years, and 35 and 66 had UC in the upper urinary tract and bladder, respectively. objective response rate to first-line chemotherapy and second-line pembrolizumab were 37.6% and 19.8%, respectively. Median PFS with chemotherapy, pembrolizumab, and PFS2 were 5, 4, and 9 months, respectively. Uni- and multivariate analyses of the five factors examined identified PFS with pembrolizumab and PFS2 as independent surrogates for OS, with PFS2 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.23) being more closely associated with OS than PFS with pembrolizumab (HR = 0.31). Furthermore, uni- and multivariate analyses of various prognostic parameters showed the independent impacts of baseline performance status (PS) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on PFS2.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest the potential of PFS2 as an optimal surrogate for OS in advanced UC patients receiving standard sequential systemic therapy and indicate that intensive treatment needs to be considered for those with poor PS and/or high NLR prior to the introduction of first-line chemotherapy.

Real-world outcomes of pembrolizumab for platinum-refractory advanced urothelial carcinoma: Efficacy, safety, and evidence for trial-unfit patients

Pembrolizumab, monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death 1, is widely used for platinum-refractory urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients. Although the survival benefit of pembrolizumab was proven in the well-designed phase III trial, these data represent only a part of patients due to strictly defined eligibility criteria. The patients' characteristics in the clinical practice are much more heterogenous than those of trial participants. The real-world experience is useful to validate the trial result and find suitable candidates for the treatment. Similarly, real-world data plays a significant role in addressing the efficacy and safety of special populations, such as poor performance status or older patients. This review summarizes the real-world evidence on pembrolizumab for platinum-refractory UCs and discusses the clinical risk factors and efficacy for trial-ineligible patients.

Association between baseline C‑reactive protein level and survival outcomes for cancer patients treated with immunotherapy: A meta‑analysis

The prognostic impact of baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is unclear. The present meta-analysis aimed to review the prognostic value of baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for patients with cancer receiving immunotherapy. Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, Chinese Literature Biomedical Database and Weipu Database, were used to identify cohort studies on the relationship between the baseline CRP levels and ICI survival outcomes from inception to November 2020. Literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation of studies were independently performed by two reviewers. Subsequently, a meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14.0. A total of 13 cohort studies comprising 2,387 patients with cancer were included in the present meta-analysis. The results indicated that high baseline CRP levels (serum CRP measured within 2 weeks before ICI treatment) were associated with low overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rate among patients treated with ICIs. The subgroup analysis based on cancer type showed that high baseline CRP levels were associated with poor survival outcomes of multiple types of cancer, such as non-small cell lung cancer (6/13; 46.2%), melanoma (2/13; 15.4%), renal cell (3/13; 23.0%) and urothelial carcinoma (2/13; 15.4%). Similar results were observed in subgroup analysis based on the CRP cut-off value of 10 mg/l. In addition, a higher mortality risk was reported in patients with cancer and CRP ≥10 mg/l (hazard ratio, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.70-4.48; P<0.001). Compared with patients with low baseline CRP levels, increased baseline CRP levels were associated with low OS and PFS rate in patients with cancer receiving ICIs. Furthermore, CRP ≥10 mg/l indicated a worse prognosis. Therefore, baseline CRP levels may serve as a marker for the prognosis of patients with certain types of solid tumor treated with ICIs. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, more prospective well-designed studies are required to verify the present findings.

Effect of liver metastasis on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Liver metastasis is a frequent phenomenon in advanced tumor disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a new class of therapeutics that can improve the prognosis of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between liver metastasis and survival outcomes of patients receiving ICIs treatment. We searched four main databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the survival outcomes of our concern. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the relationship between liver metastasis and OS/ PFS. Finally, 163 articles were included in the study. The pooled results showed that patients with liver metastasis receiving ICIs treatment had worse OS (HR=1.82, 95%CI:1.59-2.08) and PFS (HR=1.68, 95%CI:1.49-1.89) than patients without liver metastasis. The effect of liver metastasis on ICIs efficacy differed in different tumor types, and patients with urinary system tumors (renal cell carcinoma OS: HR=2.47, 95%CI:1.76-3.45; urothelial carcinoma OS: HR=2.37, 95%CI:2.03-2.76) had the worst prognosis, followed by patients with melanoma (OS: HR=2.04, 95%CI:1.68-2.49) or non-small cell lung cancer (OS: HR=1.81, 95%CI:1.72-1.91). ICIs efficacy in digestive system tumors (colorectal cancer OS: HR=1.35, 95%CI:1.07-1.71; gastric cancer/ esophagogastric cancer OS: HR=1.17, 95%CI:0.90-1.52) was less affected, and peritoneal metastasis and the number of metastases have a greater clinical significance than liver metastasis based on univariate data. For cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment, the occurrence of liver metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Different cancer types and metastatic sites may hold a different prognostic effect on the efficacy of ICIs treatment in cancer patients.

Impact of Performance Status on Oncologic Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used in the management of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). However, its performance in aUC patients with poor performance status (PS) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the impact of patients' performance status on the oncologic outcomes in patients with aUC treated with ICIs.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception until July 2022 to identify studies assessing the association between the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS and the oncologic outcomes in patients with aUC treated with ICIs in randomised (RCTs) and nonrandomised (NRCTs) control studies according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The outcomes of our interests were overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Overall, six RCTs comprising 5428 patients and 32 NRCTs comprising 6069 patients were included. The meta-analysis of the RCTs revealed that patients with ECOG PS = 0 and PS ≥1 had a trend towards better OS with ICIs compared with those treated with chemotherapy (pooled hazard ratio [HR]: 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-1.04, and HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.53-1.03, respectively). There was no significant difference in terms of response to ICIs between patients with poor and good PS (I² = 0%, p = 0.46). The meta-analysis of the NRCTs revealed that patients with PS ≥2 had significantly worse OS than those with PS <2 (pooled HR: 2.52, 95% CI: 2.00-3.17), as well as worse CSS (pooled HR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.90-5.91), PFS (pooled HR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.67-5.01), and ORR (pooled odds ratio: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.82). Similarly, patients with PS ≥1 had significantly worse oncologic outcomes than those with PS = 0.

CONCLUSIONS

In the NRCTs, poor PS was correlated with worse oncologic outcomes in aUC patients treated with ICIs. In the RCTs, ICIs performed better than chemotherapy across all PS categories. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity across the studies and patient populations. More RCTs including poor PS are needed to assess the impact of PS on ICI therapy outcomes.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Immune therapy for patients with urothelial carcinoma should not be restricted on the grounds of performance status. However, patients with poor performance status should be considered for other factors such as life expectancy and comorbidities.

Limited predictive impact of tumor size dynamics on further tumor shrinkage after 4 cycles of first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the correlation between tumor size changes during the initial 4 cycles of first-line chemotherapy and tumor shrinkage following 2 additional cycles of chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) who experienced disease control after initial chemotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 128 patients with aUC who received first-line chemotherapy. We analyzed 51 patients with disease control (stable disease or better) at the end of the fourth cycle. Of these, 47 patients received 1 to 2 additional cycles of chemotherapy, whereas the remaining patients underwent observation. For patients who received additional chemotherapy, the change in tumor size after additional chemotherapy (cycles 5-6) was defined as "no shrinkage" (tumor growth), "minor shrinkage" (no tumor growth or ≤10% reduction in tumor size), or "shrinkage" (>10% reduction in tumor size). Then, we investigated the relationship between the rate of tumor size change during the initial 4 cycles and that after additional chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of the patients who received additional chemotherapy, the change in tumor size was categorized as no shrinkage in 21 patients (44.7%), minor shrinkage in 18 patients (38.3%), and shrinkage in 8 patients (17%). Regarding predictors of tumor shrinkage after additional chemotherapy, the rate of tumor size change between the cycles 3 and 4 (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve = 0.642) was correlated with the trend of the tumor shrinkage (P = 0.009) and the likelihood of beneficial tumor shrinkage after additional chemotherapy (minor shrinkage + shrinkage; P = 0.02). However, the change in tumor size between cycles 1 and 2, cycles 1 and 4, or cycles 3 and 4 was not satisfactorily predictive of further tumor shrinkage because of substantial overlaps of the tumor size changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Only a small subset of patients would have substantial tumor shrinkage by additional cycles after successful induction of 4 cycle chemotherapy. Tumor size dynamics during the initial 4 cycles of chemotherapy displayed limited ability to predict the subset of patients with further tumor shrinkage after additional chemotherapy. Therefore, it might be better to consider switch maintenance immunotherapy for patients who experience disease control after the fourth cycle of first-line chemotherapy.

Focus on the Dynamics of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background: A number of studies have reported an association between the dynamics of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and clinical efficacy in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but there is still a lack of a meta-analysis or systematic review. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched until September 2022 for studies reporting on the association between the change in NLR after ICI treatment and clinical outcomes. Outcome measures of interest included: change in NLR before and after treatment, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 4154 patients in 38 studies were included. The pooled percentage of patients with increased NLR was 49.7% (95CI%: 43.7−55.8%). Six studies discussing the change in NLR in patients with different tumor responses all showed that the NLR level in patients without response to immunotherapy may increase after ICI treatment. The upward trend in NLR was associated with shorter OS (pooled HR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.79−2.35, p < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.66−2.14, p < 0.001) and higher ORR (pooled OR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.19−0.39, p < 0.001), and downward trend in NLR was associated with longer OS (pooled HR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.42−0.58, p < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.48−0.63, p < 0.001) and lower ORR (pooled OR: 3.26, 95%CI: 1.92−5.53, p < 0.001). In addition, post-treatment high NLR was associated with more impaired survival than baseline high NLR (pooled HR of baseline high NLR: 1.82, 95%CI: 1.52−2.18; pooled HR of post-treatment high NLR: 2.93, 95%CI: 2.26−3.81), but the NLR at different time points may have a similar predictive effect on PFS (pooled HR of baseline high NLR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.44−1.97; pooled HR of post-treatment high NLR: 2.00, 95%CI: 1.54−2.59). Conclusions: The NLR level of tumor patients after ICI treatment is stable overall, but the NLR level in patients without response to immunotherapy may increase after ICI treatment. Patients with an upward trend in NLR after ICI treatment were associated with worse clinical outcomes; meanwhile, the downward trend in NLR was associated with better clinical outcomes. Post-treatment high NLR was associated with more impaired survival than baseline high NLR.

The Impact of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio after Two Courses of Pembrolizumab for Oncological Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

We focused on the therapeutic effect of pembrolizumab for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) and evaluated predictive factors for improving clinical outcomes. We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with mUC who received pembrolizumab. The endpoint was to evaluate the association between clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes. A total of 160 patients were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups: the responder and the non-responder group, according to the best response. They were followed up for a median period of 10 months. The median overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in this study were 17 and 4 months, respectively. The responder group did not achieve median OS and it was 10 months in the non-responder group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the responder group did not achieve PFS, and it was 2 months in the non-responder group (p < 0.001). Regarding the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) after two courses of administration of pembrolizumab, patients with NLR < 3.24 had significantly better oncological outcomes than those with NLR ≥ 3.24. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between NLR after two courses of pembrolizumab and OS. Therefore, the absolute value of NLR after two courses of pembrolizumab was a significant predictive factor for oncological outcomes.

Are there differences in the characteristics of patients who respond to gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy and those who respond to pembrolizumab therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma? Multicenter retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate factors to predict overall survival of metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy or pembrolizumab therapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated two metastatic urothelial carcinoma cohorts treated with (i) gemcitabine plus cisplatin or (ii) pembrolizumab. The gemcitabine plus cisplatin cohort was treated from December 2005 through December 2014 while the pembrolizumab cohort was treated from January 2018 through December 2020. Using multivariate analyses, we evaluated the risk factors for overall survival in each cohort and compared them. None of the gemcitabine plus cisplatin cohort patients were treated with pembrolizumab. All patients in the pembrolizumab cohort were treated with prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

RESULTS

There were 184 patients in the gemcitabine plus cisplatin cohort and 91 in the pembrolizumab cohort. The mean follow-up periods were 714 and 284 days, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the risk factors for overall survival in the gemcitabine plus cisplatin cohort were liver metastasis, worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (1 or more), no primary site resection, and a high prognostic index (1 or more). In the pembrolizumab cohort, liver metastasis, bone metastasis, and worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-performance status (1 or more), and high prognostic index (1 or more) were the risk factors for overall survival. In the pembrolizumab cohort, patients with a complete response or partial response during prior platinum-based chemotherapy had better overall survival with the following pembrolizumab treatment than those with stable or progressive disease (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the similarity of these risk factors in two sequential treatments, it may be possible to predict the response to pembrolizumab according to the response to prior chemotherapy.

The Predictive Potential of the Baseline C-Reactive Protein Levels for the Efficiency of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The relationship between baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the prognosis of cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify whether baseline CRP level can serve as a biomarker to predict the efficiency of ICI therapy.

Methods

All associated articles published in the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases from the inception of the database to December 30, 2021, were retrieved. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were meta-analyzed using the random-effects model and adjusted using the trim-and-fill method because of publication bias.

Results

Thirty-three studies (6,124 patients) conducted between 2013 and 2021 were identified. The pooled outcomes implied that high baseline CRP level patients had significantly worse OS (adjusted pooled value for univariate and multivariate analysis outcomes: HR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.41-1.56; HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.34-1.59) and PFS (adjusted pooled value for univariate and multivariate analysis outcomes: HR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.15-1.45; HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.02-1.40) than low baseline CRP level patients, irrespective of cancer or ICI type. Further analysis indicated that 1 mg/dl was appropriate as a cutoff value for determining the low or high level of baseline CRP to predict the OS or PFS of cancer patients receiving ICI treatment (univariate analysis: HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.24-1.97, P = 0.909; multivariate analysis: HR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.23-2.03, P = 0.521).

Conclusions

High baseline CRP level (>1 mg/dl) may be an indicator for worse OS and PFS of cancer patients treated with ICIs. More high-quality prospective studies are warranted to assess the predictive value of CRP for ICI treatment.

Significant Improvement of Prognosis After the Advent of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Advanced, Unresectable, or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching and Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis on Real-World Data

Purpose

The treatment landscape for advanced, unresectable, or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (aUC) has shifted substantially since the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We investigated the extent to which pembrolizumab therapy is superior to conventional chemotherapy as a second-line treatment.

Patients and Methods

A multicenter-derived database registered 454 patients diagnosed with aUC between 2008 and 2020. Of these, 94 patients (21%) who received second-line pembrolizumab and 75 (17%) who received second-line chemotherapy but never received third-line or later ICI therapy were included. We compared overall survival (OS) from the initial date of first-line chemotherapy between two groups by adjusting for prognostic factors through propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval were estimated using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. To identify patients who were more likely to benefit from second-line pembrolizumab than from chemotherapy, we performed a subgroup analysis for OS with an IPTW-adjusted model.

Results

The PSM-adjusted comparison showed a significant improvement in the prognosis with second-line pembrolizumab use (P = 0.01). The OS benefit with the advent of pembrolizumab was 8 months (18 months vs 26 months). Multivariable analyses using IPTW adjustment demonstrated that lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), lung metastasis (P = 0.013), and bone metastasis (P = 0.003) were poor independent prognostic factors, and pembrolizumab use (P = 0.021) was a favorable independent prognostic factor. Subgroup analyses revealed that pembrolizumab was associated with survival benefits over chemotherapy in all subgroups, including young patients (age <70 years), those who received radical surgery, and those without visceral metastasis.

Conclusion

We demonstrated a significant improvement in prognosis after the advent of pembrolizumab for patients with aUC. ICIs should not be restricted based on patient characteristics.

Pretreatment clinical and hematologic prognostic factors of metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pembrolizumab is the standard for the first and second lines in treating metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the value of pretreatment clinical characteristics and hematologic biomarkers for prognosticating response to pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic UC. PUBMED^®, Web of Science™, and Scopus^® databases were searched for articles published before May 2021 according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) statement. Studies were deemed eligible if they evaluated overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab and pretreatment clinical characteristics or laboratory examination. Overall, 13 studies comprising 1311 patients were eligible for the meta-analysis. Several pretreatment patients’ demographics and hematologic biomarkers were significantly associated with worse OS as follows: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) ≥ 2 (Pooled hazard ratio [HR]: 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.57–4.09), presence of visceral metastasis (Pooled HR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.42–2.38), presence of liver metastasis (Pooled HR: 4.23, 95% CI 2.18–8.20), higher neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (Pooled HR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.55) and, higher c-reactive protein (CRP) (Pooled HR: 2.49, 95% CI 1.52–4.07). Metastatic UC patients with poor PS, liver metastasis, higher pretreatment NLR and/or CRP have a worse survival despite pembrolizumab treatment. These findings might help to guide the prognostic tools for clinical decision-making; however, they should be interpreted carefully, owing to limitations regarding the retrospective nature of primary data.

Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Review of the Current Evidence

In recent years, the treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma has significantly changed due to the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which are the standard of care for second-line treatment and first-line platinum-ineligible patients with advanced disease. Despite the overall survival improvement, only a minority of patients benefit from this immunotherapy. Therefore, there is an unmet need to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers or models to select patients who will benefit from ICIs, especially in view of novel therapeutic agents. This review describes the prognostic and predictive role, and clinical readiness, of clinical and tumour factors, including new molecular classes, tumour mutational burden, mutational signatures, circulating tumour DNA, programmed death-ligand 1, inflammatory indices and clinical characteristics for patients with urothelial cancer treated with ICIs. A classification of these factors according to the levels of evidence and grades of recommendation currently indicates both a prognostic and predictive value for ctDNA and a prognostic relevance only for concomitant medications and patients' characteristics.

Safety and Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Older Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review of 48 Real-World Studies

BACKGROUND

Over recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the clinical management and prognosis for most cancers. However, data on older patients in clinical trials are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

We performed a systematic review and pooled analysis of real-life studies to explore the efficacy and toxicity of ICIs in unselected older individuals in multiple tumor settings treated outside of clinical trials.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We searched articles, including prospective cohort studies, observational or retrospective series, or expanded access programs, published in English from 2010 to October 2020 in PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. We excluded hematological malignancies.

RESULTS

Forty-eight studies met the predefined criteria and were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. We included 5524 patients. The pooled median overall survival was 8.9 (95% CI 7.3-10.5) and 14.3 (95% CI 11.3-17) months for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC: n = 17 studies; 95% in pretreated setting) and melanoma, respectively (n = 3). Median progression-free survival was 3.2 (95% CI 2.7-3.8) and 7.9 (95% CI 6.05-9.78) months for NSCLC and melanoma cohorts. Pooled rates of Grade 1-5 hepatitis, pneumonitis, hypothyroidism, and diarrhea were 5.3% (95% CI 3.7-7.6), 6% (95% CI 3.8-9.4), 8.3% (95% CI 5.4-12.5) and 7.6% (95% CI 5.7-10), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that ICIs could be safely administered in older individuals with comparable survival outcomes with respect to younger individuals. Future studies should include some form of geriatric assessment to improve patient stratification.

Chronological transition in outcome of second-line treatment in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer after pembrolizumab approval: a multicenter retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

After first-line chemotherapy failure, metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) patients undergo pembrolizumab (PEM) or gemcitabine and docetaxel (GD) therapy. We retrospectively investigated outcomes of second-line GD or PEM for mUC patients.

METHODS

A total of 198 mUC patients from Nagoya City University and affiliated hospitals who received second-line treatment were grouped according to immune check point inhibitor (ICI) availability: Groups A (pre-ICI: n = 104) and B (post-ICI: n = 94). We compared clinical outcomes using Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses assessed potential prognostic factors for overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Median OS was significantly longer for Group B [median 13.6 months, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.6-17.6] than A (7.6 months, 5.3-8.8). By sub-group analysis, patients received no additional treatment (Naïve, n = 70), or PEM or GD (Salvage, n = 24) in Group B, with median OS of Naïve and A groups similar. Compared to the Salvage group, significant differences in OS were observed (median 7.6 months, 95% CI 5.3-8.8; Group A, 7.6 months, 4.7-13.8; Naïve, 25.7 months, 14.0-31.0; p < 0.01). For the Salvage group, OS for sequential treatment of GD-salvage PEM and PEM-salvage GD patients was similar (p = 0.10). Multivariate analysis showed a low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and high geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) as significant prognostic factors affecting long OS [95% CI 1.12-3.45, hazard ratio (HR): 1.97; 95% CI 0.24-0.71, 0.41, respectively].

CONCLUSION

Second-line GD or PEM therapy for mUC patients showed equivalent survival benefits. GNRI and NLR are prognostic biomarkers for survival outcome.

Current status and future perspectives of immunotherapy against urothelial and kidney cancer

Much attention has been paid to immune checkpoint inhibitors to various cancer treatments. In urothelial cancer, pembrolizumab was initially approved for patients who either recurred or progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. For the platinum-fit population, although the standard first-line treatment is still platinum-based systemic chemotherapy, avelumab has been recently approved as a maintenance therapy for patients who have not had disease progression with four to six cycles of first-line chemotherapy. In addition, adjuvant nivolumab has just prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) by ~10 months, compared with placebo in patients with muscle-invasive bladder urothelial cancer or upper tract urothelial cancer at high-risk of recurrence after radical surgical resection. On the other hand, in kidney cancer, nivolumab was initially approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma patients after one or two prior anti-angiogenic therapies. Next, combinations of two immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab + ipilimumab) and immune checkpoint inhibitor + tyrosine kinase inhibitors (pembrolizumab + axitinib and avelumab + axitinib) were approved for the first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Recently, new generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as cabozantinib and lenvatinib have been combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Both nivolumab + cabozantinib and pembrolizumab + lenvatinib have demonstrated superior progression-free survival and objective response rate, compared with sunitinib. So far, no prospective trials have demonstrated the duration of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments. We are now doing the Japan Clinical Oncology Group 1905 trial, where patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have received an immune checkpoint inhibitor for 24 weeks are divided into two groups: those who continue immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment and those who discontinue immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

Prognostic significance of the albumin-to-globulin ratio for advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: a multicenter retrospective study

Although the albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) is a promising biomarker, no study has investigated its prognostic significance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). This study conformed to the REporting recommendations for tumor MARKer prognostic studies (REMARK) criteria. We retrospectively reviewed 176 patients with advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab between 2018 and 2020. We evaluated the associations between pretreatment clinicopathological variables, including the AGR and performance status (PS), with progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariable analyses. The AGR was dichotomized as < 0.95 and ≥ 0.95 based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. After excluding 26 cases with missing data from the total of 176 cases, 109 (73%) patients experienced disease progression, 75 (50%) died from UC, and 6 (4%) died of other causes (median survival = 12 months). Multivariate analyses identified PS ≥ 2 and pretreatment AGR < 0.95 as independent poor prognostic factors for all endpoints. Furthermore, a prognostic risk model incorporating these two variables achieved a relatively high concordance index for all endpoints. This is the first report to evaluate the significance of AGR in advanced UC. Pretreatment AGR < 0.95 may serve as a prognostic marker for advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab.

Pre-pembrolizumab neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts the efficacy of second-line pembrolizumab treatment in urothelial cancer regardless of the pre-chemo NLR

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was reported to be associated with prognosis of urothelial cancer (UC) patients receiving systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy. However, it has not been elucidated how preceding first-line chemotherapy affects NLR and subsequent second-line pembrolizumab treatment. This multicenter study analyzed 458 patients with metastatic UC who received first-line chemotherapy and second-line pembrolizumab with regard to pre-chemotherapy and pre-pembrolizumab NLR in association with the efficacy of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab treatment. NLR was increased in 47% while decreased in 53% of patients before and after first-line chemotherapy. High pre-chemotherapy NLR (≥ 3) was significantly associated with unfavorable overall (OS, P = 0.0001) and progression-free (P < 0.0001) survivals after first-line chemotherapy. However, pre-chemotherapy NLR showed only modest influence on radiological response and survival after second-line pembrolizumab treatment, whereas pre-pembrolizumab NLR showed higher association. NLR decrease was associated with partial response or greater objective response by first-line chemotherapy, while NLR increase was associated with higher patient age. In conclusion, immediate pre-chemotherapy and pre-pembrolizumab NLR was significantly associated with efficacy of the following treatment, respectively. However, even patients with high pre-chemotherapy NLR achieved favorable OS if they had their NLR reduced by chemotherapy, whereas those with high pre-chemotherapy NLR yielded unfavorable OS if they had their NLR remained high after chemotherapy, suggesting that chemotherapy may have differential effect on the efficacy of subsequent pembrolizumab treatment in UC patients.

Pembrolizumab Versus Combined Chemotherapy With Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel: A Comparative Assessment of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Platinum-refractory Advanced Urothelial Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

There are limited data on comprehensive assessments of several treatments as second-line therapy against advanced urothelial cancer (UC). The objective of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between advanced UC patients receiving either pembrolizumab (Pem) or combined chemotherapy with gemcitabine and paclitaxel (GP) as second-line therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of 89 patients with platinum-refractory advanced UC, consisting of 46 and 43 who received Pem and GP therapy, respectively, as second-line treatment.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in major clinicopathological parameters between Pem and GP groups. No significant difference in the objective response rate was noted between the two groups. Progression-free survival (PFS) in the Pem group was significantly longer than that in the GP group; however, there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between them. Multivariate analyses identified performance status ≤2 and liver metastasis as independent factors associated with poor outcomes in both PFS and OS. The incidence of adverse events in the GP group was significantly higher than that in the Pem group.

CONCLUSION

Pem could be regarded as standard agent for platinum-refractory advanced UC patients.

Clinical benefit of continuing pembrolizumab treatment beyond progression in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

There has been no clinical evidence to justify continued pembrolizumab therapy beyond progression in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study evaluating the clinical efficacy of continued use of pembrolizumab beyond progression in patients with metastatic UC. Data from 51 patients with metastatic UC, who developed progression during second-line pembrolizumab therapy, were analyzed. Progression was defined based on the Immunotherapy Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The outcome was overall survival (OS). The association between continued treatment, OS, and the risk of all-cause mortality was tested using log-rank test, conventional and time-dependent Cox regression models.

RESULTS

No significant difference in patient characteristics was noted between patients continuing pembrolizumab beyond progression (N = 21) and those discontinuing pembrolizumab (N = 30). Median OS was significantly longer in the continuation group (17.8 vs. 8.8 months; P = 0.038). A multivariable conventional Cox regression model identified continued pembrolizumab administration as a significant independent prognostic factor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-0.90, P = 0.036), irrespective of the time from treatment initiation to progression and concurrent clinical progression. Further, longer duration of pembrolizumab treatment beyond progression was independently associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality in a multivariable time-dependent Cox regression model, when used as a time-dependent variable (HR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.45, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Continued pembrolizumab administration beyond progression might be beneficial in patients with metastatic UC who were clinically stable.

Comparison of pembrolizumab with conventional chemotherapy after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma in real-world practice: A multicenter retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical benefit of pembrolizumab as second-line therapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the effects of pembrolizumab with those of conventional chemotherapy on the prognosis of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma at six hospitals between January 2004 and August 2020. We compared the oncological outcomes between the patients treated with pembrolizumab and those treated with conventional chemotherapy using Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis with the inverse probability of treatment weighting method.

RESULTS

The numbers of patients in the pembrolizumab and chemotherapy groups were 121 and 67, respectively. Patients in the pembrolizumab group were significantly older (median 72 vs 66 years, P = 0.001), and had poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (median 1 vs 0, P = 0.001). The unadjusted Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed no significant differences in the median overall survival from the first-line chemotherapy (24.7 months vs 16.3 months, P = 0.159). Inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses showed a significant difference between the pembrolizumab and chemotherapy groups in overall survival (P = 0.003, hazard ratio 0.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the non-negligible age difference between the trial and our clinical practice, our study supports the benefit of second-line pembrolizumab over chemotherapy in real-world practice.

Prognostic factors in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have treated with Atezolizumab

BACKGROUND

Atezolizumab (ATZ) has demonstrated antitumor activity and manageable safety in previous studies of patients with metastatic platinum-resistant urothelial carcinoma. However, the response rate of Atezolizumab was modest. In the current study, we evaluated the pretreatment prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have progressed after first-line chemotherapy in the Expanded-Access Program of Atezolizumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, we present a retrospective analysis of 113 patients with urothelial cancer treated with ATZ after progression on first-line chemotherapy. Data of the patients was obtained from patient files and hospital records. Eligible patients included metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with at least one course of ATZ. Univariate analysis was used to identify clinical and laboratory factors that significantly impact OS. Variables were retained for multivariate analysis if they had a statistical relationship with OS (p  < 0.1), and then included a final model of p  < 0.05.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 23.5 months. Of the patients, 98 (86.7%) were male and 13.3% were female. The median age was 65 years of age (37-86). In univariate analysis, primary tumor location in the upper tract, increasing absolute neutrophil count (ANC), increasing absolute lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 3, liver metastases, baseline creatinine clearance less (GFR) than 60 ml/min, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (1 ≥), and hemoglobin levels below 10 mg/dl were all the significantly associated with OS. Three of the five adverse prognostic factors according to the Bellmunt criteria were independent of short survival: liver metastases HR 3.105; 95% CI 1.673-5.761; p < (0.001), ECOG PS (1 ≥) HR 2.184; 95% CI 1.120-4.256; p = 0.022, and Hemoglobin level below 10 mg/dl HR 2.680; 95% CI 1.558-4.608; p < (0.001). In addition, NLR > 3 hazard ratio [HR] 2.092; 95% CI 1.031-4.243; p = 0.041 and GFR less than 60 ml/min HR 1.829; 95% CI 1.1-3.041; p = 0.02, maintained a significant association with OS in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This model confirms the Bellmunt model with the addition of NLR > 3 and GFR less than 60 ml/min and can be associated with clinical trials that use immunotherapy in patients with bladder cancer.

The effect of number of treatment cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy on maximum radiological response in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The number of cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy associated with the maximum tumor response in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma is not yet established. We investigated the association between the number of cycles and the maximum radiological response of first-line chemotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 167 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy between May 2003 and December 2020. The primary outcome was estimating the number of cycles associated with the maximum radiological response and progression disease rate within the 6 cycles. The radiological response was evaluated by the RECIST v1.1. The secondary outcomes included the difference in radiological response rate and the impact on overall survival between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens.

RESULTS

The maximum radiological response was -22% at Cycles 2. It was significantly decreased at Cycles 4 (-15%) compared with Cycles 2 (P < 0.001). The progression disease rate within the first 2, 4, and 6 cycles were 21% and 63%, and 84%, respectively. Radiological response was no significant difference between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens. However, it was significantly decreased in the carboplatin-based regimen at Cycles 4 (-17%) compared with Cycles 2 (-22%; P = 0.004). Background-adjusted overall survival was not significantly different in between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens (hazard rate 1.27; P = 0.337).

CONCLUSION

The maximum radiological response was -22% at Cycles 2. The radiological response was significantly different between Cycle 2 and 4. More than half of patients had disease progression within the first 4 cycles.

Combination of Cisplatin and Irradiation Induces Immunogenic Cell Death and Potentiates Postirradiation Anti-PD-1 Treatment Efficacy in Urothelial Carcinoma

The therapeutic benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy is limited to a subset of patients in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Previous studies showed the immunogenicity of cisplatin and irradiation. Here, we investigated whether chemoradiotherapy (CRT), a combination of cisplatin and irradiation, could improve the efficacy of postirradiation anti–programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) treatment in UC. In our advanced UC patient cohort, patients with CRT showed a significantly better objective response rate (75%/22%) and overall survival (88%/30% at 12 months) following later pembrolizumab therapy compared to those without. Then, we created syngeneic UC mouse models by inoculating MB49 cells s.c. in C57BL/6J mice to examine the potential of CRT to enhance antitumor immunity in conjunction with postirradiation anti–PD-1 treatment. Nonirradiated tumors of the mice treated with CRT/postirradiation anti–PD-1 treatment had a significantly slower growth rate and a significantly higher expression of cytotoxic T cells compared to those of the mice treated with anti–PD-1 treatment alone. The mice treated with CRT/postirradiation anti–PD-1 treatment showed the best survival. Mechanistically, CRT provoked strong direct cytotoxicity and increased expressions of immunogenic cell death markers in MB49 cells. Therefore, the combination of cisplatin and irradiation induces immunogenic cell death and potentiates postirradiation anti–PD-1 treatment efficacy in UC.

Risk stratification for the prognosis of patients with chemoresistant urothelial cancer treated with pembrolizumab

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat urothelial carcinoma (UC) is increasing rapidly without clear guidance for validated risk stratification. This multicenter retrospective study collected clinicopathological information on 463 patients, and 11 predefined variables were analyzed to develop a multivariate model predicting overall survival (OS). The model was validated using an independent dataset of 292 patients. Patient characteristics and outcomes were well balanced between the discovery and validation cohorts, which had median OS times of 10.2 and 12.5 mo, respectively. The final validated multivariate model was defined by risk scores based on the hazard ratios (HRs) of independent prognostic factors including performance status, site of metastasis, hemoglobin levels, and the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio. The median OS times (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups (discovery cohort) were not yet reached (NYR) (NYR–19.1), 6.8 mo (5.8‐8.9), and 2.3 mo (1.2‐2.6), respectively. The HRs (95% CI) for OS in the low‐ and intermediate‐risk groups vs the high‐risk group were 0.07 (0.04‐0.11) and 0.23 (0.15‐0.37), respectively. The objective response rates for in the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups were 48.3%, 28.8%, and 10.5%, respectively. These differential outcomes were well reproduced in the validation cohort and in patients who received pembrolizumab after perioperative or first‐line chemotherapy (N = 584). In conclusion, the present study developed and validated a simple prognostic model predicting the oncological outcomes of pembrolizumab‐treated patients with chemoresistant UC. The model provides useful information for external validation, patient counseling, and clinical trial design.

Low Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a Poor Prognostic Marker for Second-Line Pembrolizumab Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the prognostic efficacy of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in second-line pembrolizumab (PEM) therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2018 to October 2019, 52 mUC patients, treated previously with platinum-based chemotherapy, underwent second-line PEM therapy. Peripheral blood parameters were measured at the start of treatment: serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), serum albumin, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and body height and weight. PEM was intravenously administered (200 mg every 3 weeks). The patients were organized into two groups based on their GNRI (<92 [low GNRI] and ≥92 [high GNRI]), and the data were retrospectively analyzed. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated and imaging studies assessed for all patients. Analyses of survival and recurrence were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Potential prognostic factors affecting cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

patients' baseline characteristics, except for their BMI and objective response rate, did not significantly differ between the two groups. The median total number of cycles of PEM therapy was significantly higher for the high-GNRI group (n [range]: 6 [2-20] vs. 3 [1-6]). The median CSS with second-line PEM therapy was 3.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-6.1) and 11.8 months (95% CI: 6.2-NA) in the low-GNRI and the high-GNRI group (p < 0.01), respectively. Significant differences in CSS between the low- and high-CRP or -NRL groups were not found. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis revealed that a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, visceral metastasis, and a low GNRI were significant prognostic factors for short CSS (95% CI: 1.62-6.10, HR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.13-8.11, HR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.32-8.02, HR: 3.25, respectively). Of the AEs, fatigue showed a significantly higher incidence in the low-GNRI group.

CONCLUSIONS

For mUC patients receiving second-line PEM therapy, the GNRI is a useful predictive biomarker for survival outcome.

Treating Japanese Patients With Pembrolizumab for Platinum-Refractory Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma in Real-World Clinical Practice

Background

Since December 2017, pembrolizumab has been approved in Japan as a second-line treatment for radical unresectable urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has become exacerbated after chemotherapy by the international randomized phase 3 trial, KEYNOTE-045. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncological efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced UC in real-world clinical practice.

Methods

A total of 34 patients who received pembrolizumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma at four institutions between January 2018 and August 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. In all patients, UC was histopathologically diagnosed, and disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy was radiologically confirmed.

Results

The median follow-up period was 7.7 months. The objective response rate, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 20.6%, 3.3 months, and 11.7 months, respectively. Regarding the toxicities associated with pembrolizumab, adverse events (AEs) of any grade occurred in 61.8%, and grade 3 AEs occurred in 23.5%; grade ≥ 4 AEs did not occur in any patients. Univariate analyses revealed that the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, liver metastases, and time from previous chemotherapy were prognostic variables. Multivariate analyses revealed that liver metastases (positive: hazard ratio, 4.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 - 12.08; P < 0.01) and time from previous chemotherapy (≥ 3 months: hazard ratio, 5.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.43 - 17.91; P = 0.01) were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusions

In this real-world clinical study, these findings concerning the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab for advanced UC in Japanese patients were comparable to those of the open-label, international, phase 3 trial KEYNOTE-045. Liver metastases and time from previous chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors in the present study.