First-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab with two cycles of chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone (four cycles) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: CheckMate 9LA 2-year update

BACKGROUND

To further characterize survival benefit with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab with two cycles of chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, we report updated data from the phase III CheckMate 9LA trial with a 2-year minimum follow-up.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult patients were treatment naïve, with stage IV/recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer, no known sensitizing EGFR/ALK alterations, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1. Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to nivolumab 360 mg every 3 weeks plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks with two cycles of chemotherapy, or four cycles of chemotherapy. Updated efficacy and safety outcomes are reported, along with progression-free survival (PFS) after next line of treatment (PFS2), treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) by treatment cycle, and efficacy outcomes in patients who discontinued all treatment components in the experimental arm due to TRAEs.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 30.7 months, nivolumab plus ipilimumab with chemotherapy continued to prolong overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy. Median OS was 15.8 versus 11.0 months [hazard ratio 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.61-0.86)]; 2-year OS rate was 38% versus 26%. Two-year PFS rate was 20% versus 8%. ORR was 38% versus 25%, respectively; 34% versus 12% of all responses were ongoing at 2 years. Median PFS2 was 13.9 versus 8.7 months. Improved efficacy outcomes in the experimental versus control arm were observed across most subgroups, including by programmed death-ligand 1 and histology. No new safety signals were observed; onset of grade 3/4 TRAEs was mostly observed during the first two treatment cycles in the experimental arm. In patients who discontinued all components of nivolumab plus ipilimumab with chemotherapy treatment due to TRAEs (n = 61) median OS was 27.5 months; 56% of responders had an ongoing response ≥1 year after discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

With a 2-year minimum follow-up, nivolumab plus ipilimumab with two cycles of chemotherapy provided durable efficacy benefits over chemotherapy with a manageable safety profile and remains an efficacious first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

New molecular breast cancer classification with adjuvant therapy in our population

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Background: The molecular classification (Perou) helped to identify new groups of patients with different biological behaviors. A retrospective, descriptive, comparative trial with adjuvant chemotherapy treatment was conducted. Objectives: Analyze the natural history of the subgroups of patients, frequency, site of relapse and Disease-free survival (DFS). Materials and Methods: 200 Medical charts of patients with breast cancer were analyzed from 1997 to 2007, who had received adjuvant treatment without Trastuzumab. The 92, 5 % of Luminal A, 91 % of Luminal B y C, the 75.9 % of Her2 (+) and the 69.2 % of Triple Negative (TN) had received adjuvant therapy with FAC, while 30% of the last two groups were treated with taxanes and anthracyclines. We evaluated the site of the first relapse after adjuvant treatment in relation to the new molecular classification. Log-rank test was used to compare the rates of Disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Frequency: Luminal A (86, 42%) Luminal B y C (65, 33%) Her2 + (33, 17%) TN: (16, 8%) The locoregional relapse in the TN group was 36.4% (P = 0.003), the average of bone relapses were 64.5% on the four groups without statically significance compared to other groups. The CNS had a greater trend in TN groups (16.7%) and Her2+ (13.6%), compared to Luminal Type A-B (0 % y 8.3 %). Disease-free survival (DFS): Luminal A 65.0 ± 5.0 months Luminal B y C 50.3 ± 4.3 months HER2 42.9 ± 5.5 months TN 31.1 ± 7.3 months In the analysis of type A luminal subgroup, a prolonged disease free time was showed when compared with the others subgroups, of major statistical significance Log rank (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Her2 negative and TN tumors have less DFS and a higher locoregional and CNS relapse.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Relation between vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in tumor sample and response rate in patients with cervical cancer treated with chemo-radiotherapy

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Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their receptors play a fundamental role in the regulation of the angiogenesis and linfoangiogenesis. This study examined the relation between levels of expression of the VEGFR with the rate of response in patients (pts) with cervical cancer treated with chemo-radiotherapy-brachytherapy with cisplatinum. Methods: Clinical records of 30 women with their pathology were analyzed. The expression of the VEGFR was evaluated by inmunohistochemestry (IHQ-) by a pathologists committee and It was classified in 4 categories according percentage of tumor cells cytoplasm marked: 0 = 0% / 1=< 25% / 2=<26%-50% and 3 = > 50%. In order to correlate the VEGFR expression with response rate, patients were classified in 2 groups: lower level of expression (VEGFR 0–1), and high level of expression (VEGFR 2–3). In a second analysis we discriminated those with VEGFR expression 3 ant the rest of the group. The evaluation of the tumor response was made by clinical examination and magnetic nuclear resonance (RNM). We used Fisher exact test for statistical analysis Results: Median age: 47 years (r: 27 - 69). Pts with VEGFR 0 =2 (6.66%) pt with 1,2,3 VEGFR =28 (93.33%)(p:<0,001) . Objective respnse rate (OR) in pts with low expression of VEGFR was 90.9%, OR rate for pts with high levels of expression VEGFR was 56.97% (p: 0,52). The OR rate for pts with VEGFR 3 OR was 28.57% and for pats with VEGFR 0,1,2 was 69.56% (p:0,035) Conclusions: We observed that 93.33% of pts expresed VEGFR. OR rate was higher among pts. with lower expression compared with pts. of higher level of expression. These results, although in a small group of patients, stimulate investigation of anti angiogenic therapies in cervical cancer.

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Randomized phase II study of cisplatin plus gemcitabine administered either as short infusion or at a fixed dose rate in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Previous studies have indicated that, in combination with cisplatin (cis), fixed dose rate gemcitabine (gem) may be more efficacious than standard infusion gem. This open-label, randomized, multicenter Phase II study (B9E-LA-S350) was aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of these regimens as treatment for advanced NSCLC in Latin American patients (pts). Methods: Major eligibility criteria included histologic/cytologic diagnosis of stage IIIB/IV NSCLC not amenable to curative surgery; and at least one measurable lesion. Pts were randomized to receive up to 6 cycles of treatment with cis 75 mg/m2 on Day 1 plus either gem 1000 mg/m2 over 30 min on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle (standard arm) or gem 1000 mg/m2 at a fixed dose rate of 10 mg/ m2/min on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle (FDR arm). The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR; assessed by RECIST criteria) and secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), duration of tumor response (TR), and toxicity. Results: The results from this interim analysis assessed all objectives. Sixty-four pts were randomized to treatment (N = 33 standard arm; N = 31 FDR arm): 22 females; mean age 60 ± 9 yrs; 20% stage IIIB, 80% stage IV. In the standard arm, 9 (27%) pts responded (CR or PR) compared to 6 (20%) pts in the FDR arm (Odds ratio: 0.67, 95% CI 0.21–2.2, p = .56). As shown in the table below, there were no statistically significant differences in median ORR, OS, PFS, TR times, and Grade (G) 3/4 toxicities. Conclusions: The standard and FDR gem and cis treatment regimens produced similar results for both efficacy and toxicity in this patient population. This trial does not support the use of a FDR administration of gem in Latin American pts with NSCLC.

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A randomised phase II study of oxaliplatin alone versus oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid (Mayo Clinic regimen) in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of both oxaliplatin as a single agent and oxaliplatin in combination with dailyx5 bolus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid (5-FU/FA, Mayo clinic regimen) in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. 73 advanced CRC patients were randomised to receive either oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks (35 patients), or the same treatment combined with 5-FU 425 mg/m(2)/day and FA 20 mg/m(2)/dayx5 days every 4 weeks (38 patients). Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. All patients had documented inoperable disease and no previous chemotherapy for advanced disease. Based on the investigators' assessment of best response, objective response rate was 9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2-24%) in the oxaliplatin arm, and 45% (95% CI 27-64%) in the oxaliplatin+5-FU/FA arm. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2 months (95% CI 1.7-2.4 months) in the oxaliplatin arm and 3.9 months (95% CI 2.9-5 months) in the oxaliplatin+5-FU/FA arm. Severe neutropenia was seen in 23% of patients in the oxaliplatin+5-FU/FA arm, and none in the oxaliplatin arm. There were two treatment-related deaths, both in the oxaliplatin+5-FU/FA arm. In the oxaliplatin+5-FU/FA arm, severe diarrhoea, vomiting and stomatitis were seen in 34, 14 and 14% of the patients, respectively. In conclusion, oxaliplatin at a dose of 85 mg/m(2) given every 2 weeks was well tolerated and has limited activity in metastatic CRC, while the combination of this treatment with the full-dose Mayo clinic regimen (5-FU bolus 425 mg/m(2)/day+FA 20 mg/m(2)/dayx5 days every 4 weeks), although active, was unfeasible due to a high level of myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Alternative lower dosing or other regimens are to be explored to ascertain the value of bolus 5-FU/FA combined with oxaliplatin.

Uracil/tegafur plus oral calcium folinate in advanced breast cancer

Uracil and tegafur (in a molar ratio of 4:1 [UFT]) has proven activity against breast cancer and is delivered in an easy-to-administer oral formulation. Orzel, which combines UFT with the oral biomodulator, calcium folinate, may provide even greater antitumor efficacy against breast cancer. Here, we describe the preliminary results of this phase II trial investigating the feasibility of 250 mg/m2/day of UFT plus 45 mg/day of oral calcium folinate administered to highly pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer. The results indicate a highly tolerable regimen and an overall response rate of 27.8% in a group of poor-prognosis patients. These findings warrant continued investigation.