Exploratory biomarker analysis in the phase III L-MOCA study of olaparib maintenance therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prospective phase III multi-centre L-MOCA trial (NCT03534453) has demonstrated the encouraging efficacy and manageable safety profile of olaparib maintenance therapy in the Asian (mainly Chinese) patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer (PSROC). In this study, we report the preplanned exploratory biomarker analysis of the L-MOCA trial, which investigated the effects of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on olaparib efficacy. METHODS: HRD status was determined using the ACTHRD assay, an enrichment-based targeted next-generation sequencing assay. PD-L1 expression was assessed by SP263 immunohistochemistry assay. PD-L1 expression positivity was defined by the PD-L1 expression on ≥ 1% of immune cells. Kaplan-Meier method was utilised to analyse progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: This exploratory biomarker analysis included 225 patients and tested HRD status [N = 190; positive, N = 125 (65.8%)], PD-L1 expression [N = 196; positive, N = 56 (28.6%)], and BRCA1/2 mutation status (N = 219). The HRD-positive patients displayed greater median PFS than the HRD-negative patients [17.9 months (95% CI: 14.5-22.1) versus 9.2 months (95% CI: 7.5-13.8)]. PD-L1 was predominantly expressed on immune cells. Positive PD-L1 expression on immune cells was associated with shortened median PFS in the patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations [14.5 months (95% CI: 7.4-18.2) versus 22.2 months (95% CI: 18.3-NA)]. Conversely, positive PD-L1 expression on immune cells was associated with prolonged median PFS in the patients with wild-type BRCA1/2 [20.9 months (95% CI: 13.9-NA) versus 8.3 months (95% CI: 6.7-13.8)]. CONCLUSIONS: HRD remained an effective biomarker for enhanced olaparib efficacy in the Asian patients with PSROC. Positive PD-L1 expression was associated with decreased olaparib efficacy in the patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations but associated with improved olaparib efficacy in the patients with wild-type BRCA1/2. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03534453. Registered at May 23, 2018.

Olaparib Maintenance Monotherapy in Asian Patients with Platinum-Sensitive Relapsed Ovarian Cancer: Phase III Trial (L-MOCA).

PURPOSE: In patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed (PSR) ovarian cancer, olaparib maintenance monotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo. However, evidence in the Asian population is lacking. This is the first study to evaluate olaparib efficacy and tolerability exclusively in Asian patients with PSR ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Considering the limited placebo effect and significant clinical benefit of olaparib in previous trials, and the rapid approval of olaparib in China, this phase III study was designed as an open-label, single-arm trial. Patients with high-grade epithelial PSR ovarian cancer were enrolled from country-wide clinical centers across China and Malaysia. Patients received oral olaparib (300 mg) twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was median PFS (mPFS). Primary analysis of PFS using the Kaplan-Meier method was performed when data reached 60% maturity (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03534453). RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2020, 225 patients were enrolled, and 224 received olaparib; 35.7% had received ≥3 lines of chemotherapy, 35.3% had achieved complete response to their last line of platinum-based chemotherapy, and 41.1% had a platinum-free interval ≤12 months. At primary data cut-off (December 25, 2020), overall mPFS was 16.1 months; mPFS was 21.2 and 11.0 months in BRCA-mutated and wild-type BRCA subgroups, respectively. Adverse events (AE) occurred in 99.1% of patients (grade ≥3, 48.7%); 9.4% discontinued therapy due to treatment-related AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Olaparib maintenance therapy was highly effective and well tolerated in Asian patients with PSR ovarian cancer, regardless of BRCA status. This study highlights the promising efficacy of olaparib in this Asian population. See related commentary by Nicum and Blagden, p. 2201.