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McLean LS, Lim AM, Bressel M, Lee J, Ladwa R, Guminski AD, Hughes B, Bowyer S, Briscoe K, Harris S, Kukard C, Zielinski R, Alamgeer M, Carlino M, Mo J, Park JJ, Khattak MA, Day F, Rischin D. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in Australia: a retrospective real world cohort study. Med J Aust 2024; 220:80-90. [PMID: 38212673 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) outside clinical trials. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational study; review of patient records in fifteen Australian institutions. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS All Australian adults with locally advanced or metastatic CSCC not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy treated with ICIs, 5 May 2017 - 23 May 2022, through a cemiplimab compassionate access scheme (Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme) or who personally covered the cost of pembrolizumab prior to the start of the access scheme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Best overall response rate (ORR) according to standardised assessment criteria using the hierarchy: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1), the modified World Health Organization clinical response criteria, and the Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria (PERCIST 1.0); overall and progression-free survival. RESULTS A total of 286 people with advanced CSCC received ICI therapy during May 2017 - May 2022 (cemiplimab, 270; pembrolizumab, 16). Their median age was 75.2 years (range, 39.3-97.5 years) and 232 were men (81%); median follow-up time was 12.2 months (interquartile range, 5.5-20.5 months). Eighty-eight people (31%) were immunocompromised, 27 had autoimmune disease, and 59 of 277 (21%) had ECOG performance scores of 2 or 3. The ORR was 60% (166 of 278 evaluable patients): complete responses were recorded for 74 (27%) and partial responses for 92 patients (33%). Twelve-month overall survival was 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72-83%); progression-free survival was 65% (95% CI, 58-70%). Poorer ECOG performance status was associated with poorer overall survival (per unit: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.0; 95% CI, 2.0-4.3) and progression-free survival (aHR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8-3.3), as was being immunocompromised (overall: aHR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.0; progression-free: aHR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.7). Fifty-five people (19%) reported immune-related adverse events of grade 2 or higher; there were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION In our retrospective study, the effectiveness and toxicity of ICI therapy were similar to those determined in clinical trials. Our findings suggest that ICIs could be effective and well tolerated by people with advanced CSCC who are ineligible for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke S McLean
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Annette M Lim
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Mathias Bressel
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
- Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Jenny Lee
- Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW
- Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW
| | - Rahul Ladwa
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
| | | | - Brett Hughes
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
| | | | - Karen Briscoe
- Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour, NSW
| | | | | | - Rob Zielinski
- Central West Cancer Care Centre, Orange, NSW
- Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW
| | | | - Matteo Carlino
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, NSW
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | | | | | | | - Fiona Day
- Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
| | - Danny Rischin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
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Yeo N, Genenger B, Aghmesheh M, Thind A, Napaki S, Perry J, Ashford B, Ranson M, Brungs D. Sex as a Predictor of Response to Immunotherapy in Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5026. [PMID: 37894393 PMCID: PMC10605413 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 3-5% of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) develop advanced disease, accounting for roughly 1% of all cancer deaths in Australia. Immunotherapy has demonstrated significant clinical benefit in advanced CSCC in several key phase II studies; however, there are limited data for patients treated outside of clinical trials. This is particularly relevant in advanced CSCC, which is most often seen in elderly patients with significant comorbidities. Thus, we aim to describe our experience with immunotherapy in a cohort of patients with advanced CSCC in Australia. We retrospectively reviewed all advanced CSCC patients treated with immunotherapy within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District. Among the 51 patients treated with immunotherapy, there was an objective response rate (ORR) of 53% and disease control rate (DCR) of 67%. Our most significant predictor of response was sex, with male patients more likely to have better responses compared to female patients (DCR 85% vs. 41%, p < 0.0001), as well as improved progression-free survival (HR 4.6, 95%CI 1.9-10.8, p = 0.0007) and overall survival (HR 3.0, 95%CI 1.3-7.1, p = 0.006). Differential expression analysis of 770 immune-related genes demonstrated an impaired CD8 T-cell response in female patients. Our observed ORR of 53% is similar to that described in current literature with durable responses seen in the majority of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Yeo
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), NSW Health, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Benjamin Genenger
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | | | - Amarinder Thind
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), NSW Health, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Sarbar Napaki
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Anatomical Pathology, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Southern IML/Sonic Healthcare, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Jay Perry
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Bruce Ashford
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), NSW Health, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Marie Ranson
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Daniel Brungs
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), NSW Health, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
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