Identifying Oncology Clinical Trial Candidates Using Artificial Intelligence Predictions of Treatment Change: A Pilot Implementation Study.

PURPOSE: Precision oncology clinical trials often struggle to accrue, partly because it is difficult to find potentially eligible patients at moments when they need new treatment. We piloted deployment of artificial intelligence tools to identify such patients at a large academic cancer center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neural networks that process radiology reports to identify patients likely to start new systemic therapy were applied prospectively for patients with solid tumors that had undergone next-generation sequencing at our center. Model output was linked to the MatchMiner tool, which matches patients to trials using tumor genomics. Reports listing genomically matched patients, sorted by probability of treatment change, were provided weekly to an oncology nurse navigator (ONN) coordinating recruitment to nine early-phase trials. The ONN contacted treating oncologists when patients likely to change treatment appeared potentially trial-eligible. RESULTS: Within weekly reports to the ONN, 60,199 patient-trial matches were generated for 2,150 patients on the basis of genomics alone. Of these, 3,168 patient-trial matches (5%) corresponding to 525 patients were flagged for ONN review by our model, representing a 95% reduction in review compared with manual review of all patient-trial matches weekly. After ONN review for potential eligibility, treating oncologists for 74 patients were contacted. Common reasons for not contacting treating oncologists included cases where patients had already decided to continue current treatment (21%); the trial had no slots (14%); or the patient was ineligible on ONN review (12%). Of 74 patients whose oncologists were contacted, 10 (14%) had a consult regarding a trial and five (7%) enrolled. CONCLUSION: This approach facilitated identification of potential patients for clinical trials in real time, but further work to improve accrual must address the many other barriers to trial enrollment in precision oncology research.

A phase Ib/II study of galunisertib in combination with nivolumab in solid tumors and non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In this phase Ib/II open-label study, tumor immune suppression was targeted in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors and patients with recurrent/refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using galunisertib with nivolumab. METHODS: Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 1, and were treatment-naive for anti-programmed cell death-1, its ligand, or transforming growth factor ß receptor 1 kinase inhibitors. Phase Ib was an open-label, dose-escalation assessment of the safety and tolerability of galunisertib with nivolumab in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors. Phase II evaluated the safety of galunisertib with nivolumab in NSCLC patients who had received prior platinum-based treatment but were immuno-oncology agent-naive. RESULTS: This trial was conducted between October 2015 and August 2020. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in phase I. In the phase II NSCLC cohort (n = 25), patients received 150 mg twice daily galunisertib (14 days on/14 days off dosing schedule for all phases) plus nivolumab at 3 mg/kg (intravenously every 2 weeks). In this phase, the most frequent treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were pruritus (n = 9, 36%), fatigue (n = 8, 32%), and decreased appetite (n = 7, 28%). No grade 4 or 5 treatment-related AEs were observed. Six (24%) patients had confirmed partial response (PR) and 4 (16%) had stable disease; 1 additional patient had confirmed PR after initial pseudo-progression. The median duration of response was 7.43 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.75, NR). Among the 7 responders, including the delayed responder, 1 had high PD-L1 expression (≥ 50%). The median progression-free survival was 5.26 months (95% CI: 1.77, 9.20) and the median overall survival was 11.99 months (95% CI: 8.15, NR). Interferon gamma response genes were induced post-treatment and cell adhesion genes were repressed, although the association of these observations with tumor response and clinical outcomes was not statistically powered due to limited samples available. CONCLUSIONS: The study met its primary endpoint as galunisertib combined with nivolumab was well tolerated. Preliminary efficacy was observed in a subset of patients in the Phase 2 NSCLC cohort. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02423343; 22.04.2015).

First-In-Human Phase I Study of a Next-Generation, Oral, TGFß Receptor 1 Inhibitor, LY3200882, in Patients with Advanced Cancer.

PURPOSE: A novel, selective, next-generation transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) receptor type-1 small molecule inhibitor, LY3200882, demonstrated promising preclinical data. This first-in-human trial evaluated safety, tolerability, recommended phase II dose (RP2D), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity of LY3200882 as monotherapy or with other anticancer agents in patients with advanced cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This phase I multicenter study of oral LY3200882 (NCT02937272) comprised dose escalation, monotherapy expansion in grade 4 glioma, and combination therapy in solid tumors (LY3200882 and PD-L1 inhibitor LY3300054), pancreatic cancer (LY3200882, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel), and head and neck squamous cell cancer (LY3200882, cisplatin, and radiation). RESULTS: Overall, 139 patients with advanced cancer were treated. The majority (93.5%) of patients experienced ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE), with 39.6% LY3200882-related. Grade 3 LY3200882-related toxicities were only observed in combination therapy arms. One patient in the pancreatic cancer arm experienced cardiovascular toxicity. The LY3200882 monotherapy RP2Ds were established in two schedules: 50 mg twice a day 2-weeks-on/2-weeks-off and 35 mg twice a day 3-weeks-on/1-week-off. Four patients with grade 4 glioma had durable Revised Assessment in Neuro Oncology (RANO) partial responses (PR) with LY3200882 monotherapy (n = 3) or LY3200882-LY3300054 combination therapy (n = 1). In treatment-naïve patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, 6 of 12 patients achieved Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 PR and 3 of 12 patients demonstrated stable disease, for an overall 75% disease-control rate with the combination of LY3200882, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel. CONCLUSIONS: LY3200882 as monotherapy and combination therapy was safe and well tolerated with preliminary antitumor activity observed in pancreatic cancer. Further studies to evaluate the efficacy of LY3200882 with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in advanced pancreatic cancer are warranted.

Safety and Antitumor Activity of α-PD-L1 Antibody as Monotherapy or in Combination with α-TIM-3 Antibody in Patients with Microsatellite Instability-High/Mismatch Repair-Deficient Tumors.

PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors show high response rates and durable clinical benefit in microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) tumors. However, 50%-60% do not respond to single-agent anti-programmed death-1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) antibodies, and approximately 50% of responders relapse within 6-12 months. This phase Ib trial evaluated safety and antitumor activity of anti-PD-L1 antibody LY3300054 monotherapy or in combination with anti-TIM-3 antibody LY3321367 in patients with MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients ≥18 years without prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy received LY3300054 monotherapy (N = 40) or combination (N = 20); patients with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant/refractory tumors received the combination (N = 22). LY3300054 (700 mg) and anti-TIM-3 antibody (cycles 1-2: 1,200 mg, cycle 3 onward: 600 mg) were administered intravenously every 2 weeks. Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled. Most had colorectal (n = 39, 47.6%) or endometrial (n = 14, 17.1%) tumors. More than 70% of patients in the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant/refractory combination cohort had received ≥3 treatment lines. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) occurred in 22 patients (55.0%) receiving monotherapy, 13 (65.0%) in the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-naïve combination cohort, and 6 (27.3%) in the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant/refractory combination cohort. A total of 2 patients (5.0%) receiving monotherapy and 3 (7.1%) receiving the combination experienced grade ≥3 TRAEs. Objective responses occurred in 13 patients (32.5%) with monotherapy, 9 (45.0%) in the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-naïve combination cohort, and 1 patient (4.5%) in the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant/refractory combination cohort. CONCLUSIONS: LY3300054 monotherapy and combined LY3300054/anti-TIM-3 had manageable safety profiles. Both regimens showed promising clinical activity against PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-naïve MSI-H/dMMR tumors. The combination had limited clinical benefit in patients with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant/refractory MSI-H/dMMR tumors.

A Phase I Study of an IDO-1 Inhibitor (LY3381916) as Monotherapy and in Combination With an Anti-PD-L1 Antibody (LY3300054) in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

LY3381916 is an orally available, highly selective, potent inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1. This study explored the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of LY3381916 monotherapy and in combination with a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor (LY3300054) in patients with advanced solid tumors. During dose escalation, patients received escalating doses of LY3381916 at 60-600 mg once daily (qd) and 240 mg twice daily in monotherapy (n=21) and in combination with PD-L1 inhibitor at 700 mg every 2 weeks (n=21). A modified toxicity probability interval method was used to guide dose escalation. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in 3 patients; 1 at LY3381916 240 mg twice daily (alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase increase and systemic inflammatory response syndrome) and 2 at LY3381916 240 mg qd in combination with PD-L1 inhibitor (fatigue and immune-related hepatitis). LY3381916, at the recommended phase II dose, 240 mg qd, in combination with PD-L1 inhibitor, produced maximal inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 activity in plasma and tumor tissue, and led to an increase of CD8 T cells in tumor tissue. In the combination dose expansion cohorts, 14 triple-negative breast cancer and 4 non-small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled. Treatment-related liver toxicity (grade ≥2 alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase increase or immune-related hepatitis) was the most prominent adverse event in triple-negative breast cancer patients (n=5, 35.7%). Best response was stable disease. These preliminary data suggest an alternative dose level of LY3381916 is needed for the combination with PD-L1 inhibitor. The combination clinical activity was limited in this study.

Safety and activity of the TGFß receptor I kinase inhibitor galunisertib plus the anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) receptor inhibitor galunisertib co-administered with the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody durvalumab in recurrent/refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer previously treated with ≤2 systemic regimens. METHODS: This was a two-part, single-arm, multinational, phase Ib study. In a dose-finding phase, escalating oral doses of galunisertib were co-administered on days 1-14 with fixed-dose intravenous durvalumab 1500 mg on day 1 every 4 weeks (Q4W), followed by an expansion cohort phase. RESULTS: The galunisertib recommended phase II dose (RP2D) when co-administered with durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W was 150 mg two times per day. No dose-limiting toxicities were recorded. Among 32 patients treated with galunisertib RP2D, 1 patient had partial response, 7 had stable disease, 15 had objective progressive disease, and 9 were not evaluable. Disease control rate was 25.0%. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 5.72 months (95% CI: 4.01 to 8.38) and 1.87 months (95% CI: 1.58 to 3.09), respectively. Pharmacokinetic profiles for combination therapy were comparable to those published for each drug. There was no association between potential biomarkers and treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Galunisertib 150 mg two times per day co-administered with durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W was tolerable. Clinical activity was limited. Studying this combination in patients in an earlier line of treatment or selected for predictive biomarkers of TGFß inhibition might be a more suitable approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02734160.

Safety and Immunogenicity of LY3415244, a Bispecific Antibody Against TIM-3 and PD-L1, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: Investigate the safety and efficacy of LY3415244, a TIM-3/PD-L1 bispecific antibody that blocks TIM-3 and PD-L1 in patients with advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A phase I, multicenter, open-label study was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients were dosed every 2 weeks intravenously with flat doses of LY3415244 escalating from 3 to 70 mg. The primary endpoints were safety, tolerability, and identification of the recommended phase II dose. RESULTS: Between November 2018 and October 2019, 12 patients were enrolled into four cohorts and received at least one dose of LY3415244. Two patients (16.7%) developed clinically significant anaphylactic infusion-related reactions and all patients developed treatment-emergent antidrug antibodies (TE-ADA). ADA titers were sometimes very high and negatively impacted soluble TIM-3 target engagement in most patients. ADA epitope specificity was against both TIM-3 and PD-L1 arms of the bispecific antibody; most TE-ADAs initially targeted the TIM-3 arm after the first dose. Preexisting ADAs against LY3415244 were also detected in normal (unexposed) human serum samples. One patient with PD-1 refractory non-small cell lung cancer had a near partial response (-29.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This TIM-3 and PD-L1 bispecific format was associated with unexpected immunogenicity targeting both arms of the bispecific antibody, resulting in early study termination. Epitope specificity analysis revealed an initial response toward the TIM-3 arm and presence of preexisting ADAs to the bispecific molecule in the general population. This experience emphasizes the importance of thorough analyses for preexisting ADAs as part of immunogenicity risk assessment of novel antibodies.See related commentary by de Spéville and Moreno, p. 2669.

Blocking TIM-3 in Treatment-refractory Advanced Solid Tumors: A Phase Ia/b Study of LY3321367 with or without an Anti-PD-L1 Antibody.

PURPOSE: T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (TIM-3) blunts anticancer immunity and mediates resistance to programmed death 1 (PD-1) and PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. We assessed a novel, first-in-class, TIM-3 mAb, LY3321367, alone or in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibody, LY300054 in patients with advanced solid tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This open-label, multicenter, phase Ia/b study aimed to define the safety/tolerability and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of LY3321367 with or without LY300054. Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and efficacy. Biomarkers were assessed in exploratory analysis. RESULTS: No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the monotherapy (N = 30) or combination (N = 28) dose escalation. LY3321367 treatment-related adverse events (≥2 patients) included pruritus, rash, fatigue, anorexia, and infusion-related reactions. Dose-proportional increase in LY3321367 concentrations was not affected by either LY300054 or antidrug antibodies (observed in 50%-70% of patients). Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling indicated 100% target engagement at doses ≥600 mg. LY3321367 RP2D was 1,200 mg biweekly for four doses followed by 600 mg every 2 weeks thereafter. In the non-small cell lung cancer monotherapy expansion cohort, outcomes varied by prior anti-PD-1 therapy response status: anti-PD-1/L1 refractory patients [N = 23, objective response rate (ORR) 0%, disease control rate (DCR) 35%, progression-free survival (PFS) 1.9 months] versus anti-PD-1/L1 responders (N = 14, ORR 7%, DCR 50%, PFS 7.3 months). In combination expansion cohorts (N = 91), ORR and DCR were 4% and 42%; CD8 infiltration in paired biopsies increased in approximately half these patients. CONCLUSIONS: LY3321367 exhibited acceptable safety profile with favorable pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics but only modest antitumor activity. The therapeutic relevance of TIM-3 blockade requires further investigation.

Randomized Phase 2 Studies of Checkpoint Inhibitors Alone or in Combination With Pegilodecakin in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC (CYPRESS 1 and CYPRESS 2).

INTRODUCTION: Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have been approved to treat metastatic NSCLC. Pegilodecakin + CPI suggested promising efficacy in phase 1 IVY, providing rationale for randomized phase 2 trials CYPRESS 1 and CYPRESS 2. METHODS: CYPRESS 1 (N = 101) and CYPRESS 2 (N = 52) included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1 and first-line/second-line metastatic NSCLC, respectively, without known EGFR/ALK mutations. Patients were randomized 1:1; control arms received pembrolizumab (CYPRESS 1) or nivolumab (CYPRESS 2); experimental arms received pegilodecakin + CPI. Patients had programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of greater than or equal to 50% (CYPRESS 1) or 0% to 49% (CYPRESS 2). Primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) per investigator. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Exploratory end points included immune activation biomarkers. RESULTS: Median follow-up for CYPRESS 1 and CYPRESS 2 was 10.0 and 11.6 months, respectively. Results for pegilodecakin + pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab were as follows: ORR per investigator 47% versus 44% (OR = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-2.5); median PFS 6.3 versus 6.1 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.937, 95% CI: 0.54-1.625); and median OS 16.3 months versus not reached (HR = 1.507, 95% CI: 0.708-3.209). Results per blinded independent central review were consistent. Treatment discontinuation rate owing to adverse events (AEs) doubled in the experimental arm (32% versus 15%). AEs with grade greater than or equal to 3 treatment-related AEs (62% versus 19%) included anemia (20% versus 0%) and thrombocytopenia (12% versus 2%). Results for pegilodecakin + nivolumab versus nivolumab were as follows: ORR per investigator 15% versus 12% (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.3-5.9); median PFS 1.9 versus 1.9 months (HR = 1.006, 95% CI: 0.519-1.951); and median OS 6.7 versus 10.7 months (HR = 1.871, 95% CI: 0.772-4.532). AEs with grade greater than or equal to 3 treatment-related AEs (70.4% versus 16.7%) included anemia (40.7% versus 0%), fatigue (18% versus 0%), and thrombocytopenia (14.8% versus 0%). Biomarker data suggested activation of immunostimulatory signals of interleukin-10R pathway in pegilodecakin-containing arms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence of biological effect in peripheral blood, adding pegilodecakin to CPI did not improve ORR, PFS, or OS, in first-line/second-line NSCLC. Pegilodecakin + CPI has been found to have overall higher toxicity compared with CPI alone, leading to doubling of treatment discontinuation rate owing to AEs.

Safety and Clinical Activity of a New Anti-PD-L1 Antibody as Monotherapy or Combined with Targeted Therapy in Advanced Solid Tumors: The PACT Phase Ia/Ib Trial.

PURPOSE: This phase Ia/Ib PACT study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of a new programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, LY3300054, as monotherapy or in combination with ramucirumab, abemaciclib, or merestinib (a type II MET kinase inhibitor) in patients with advanced, refractory solid tumors (NCT02791334). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled into cohorts of escalating LY3300054 dose (phase Ia) as monotherapy (N = 15) or combined with ramucirumab (N = 10), abemaciclib (N = 24), or merestinib (N = 12). The phase Ib dose expansion enrolled 8 patients with melanoma in the monotherapy arm and 12 patients with pancreatic cancer in the merestinib combination arm. Combination treatments were administered concurrently from day 1 of each cycle. A 14-day lead-in abemaciclib arm was also explored. Primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and safety. RESULTS: Treatment-related adverse events included fatigue and nausea in the monotherapy arm (13% for each), hypothyroidism (30%) in the ramucirumab arm, diarrhea (54%) in the abemaciclib arm, and nausea (25%) in the merestinib arm. DLTs associated with hepatoxicity were observed in 3 of 4 patients in the abemaciclib lead-in cohorts. No DLTs or grade 3 or 4 hepatoxicity were reported in the concurrent abemaciclib arm. Pharmacokinetic characteristics were comparable with other PD-L1 inhibitors. One patient in each arm experienced a partial response per RECIST v1.1 lasting ≥7 months. CONCLUSIONS: LY3300054 was well tolerated without unexpected safety concerns when administered alone or concurrently with ramucirumab, abemaciclib, or merestinib. Lead-in abemaciclib before combining with LY3300054 was not feasible due to hepatotoxicity. Durable clinical benefits were seen in all regimens.

Pembrolizumab in combination with ipilimumab as second-line or later therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: KEYNOTE-021 cohorts D and H.

OBJECTIVES: Combination immunotherapy may result in improved antitumor activity compared with single-agent treatment. We report results from dose-finding and dose-expansion cohorts of the phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-021 study that evaluated combination therapy with anti‒programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab plus anti‒cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody ipilimumab in patients with previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria stipulated histologically/cytologically confirmed advanced NSCLC and treatment failure on ≥1 prior systemic therapy (platinum-based chemotherapy or targeted therapy for patients with EGFR/ALK aberrations). In the dose-finding cohort, patients initially received pembrolizumab 10 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 or 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 10 mg/kg monotherapy for up to 2 years. Based on emerging published data, subsequent patients received pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg. Objective response rate (ORR; primary efficacy endpoint) was assessed per RECIST version 1.1 by blinded, independent central review. Phase 2 hypothesis that ORR would be greater than the 20% rate for historical controls was evaluated using the exact binomial test. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were enrolled; 71% received ≥2 prior lines of therapy. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred at any dose level. Among patients who received pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (n = 44), ORR was 30% (95% CI, 17%-45%), but not statistically significantly >20% (P = 0.0858). Median progression-free survival in this group was 4.1 (95% CI, 1.4-5.8) months; median overall survival was 10.9 (95% CI, 6.1-23.7) months. With pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg, incidences of treatment-related adverse events, grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events, and immune-mediated adverse events and infusion reactions were 64%, 29%, and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with heavily pretreated advanced NSCLC, pembrolizumab plus ipilimumab showed evidence of antitumor activity, but was associated with meaningful toxicity.

A Phase I, Open-Label, Multicenter, Dose-escalation Study of the Oral Selective FGFR Inhibitor Debio 1347 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors Harboring FGFR Gene Alterations.

PURPOSE: To investigate tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of Debio 1347, a selective FGFR inhibitor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a first-in-human, multicenter, open-label study in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring FGFR1-3 gene alterations. Eligible patients received oral Debio 1347 at escalating doses once daily until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were evaluated during the first 4 weeks on treatment, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics postfirst dose and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were screened and 58 treated with Debio 1347 at doses from 10 to 150 mg/day. Predominant tumor types were breast and biliary duct cancer, most common gene alterations were FGFR1 amplifications (40%) and mutations in FGFR2 (12%) and FGFR3 (17%); 12 patients (21%) showed FGFR fusions. Five patients at three dose levels had six DLTs (dry mouth/eyes, hyperamylasemia, hypercalcemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperphosphatemia, and stomatitis). The maximum tolerated dose was not reached, but dermatologic toxicity became sometimes dose limiting beyond the DLT period at ≥80 mg/day. Adverse events required dose modifications in 52% of patients, mostly due to dose-dependent, asymptomatic hyperphosphatemia (22%). RECIST responses were seen across tumor types and mechanisms of FGFR activation. Six patients, 3 with FGFR fusions, demonstrated partial responses, 10 additional patients' tumor size regressions of ≤30%. Plasma half-life was 11.5 hours. Serum phosphate increased with Debio 1347 plasma levels and confirmed target engagement at doses ≥60 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary efficacy was encouraging and tolerability acceptable up to 80 mg/day, which is now used in an extension part of the study.

2017-2018 Scientific Advances in Thoracic Oncology: Small Cell Lung Cancer.

SCLC remains an aggressive, deadly cancer with only modest effect on survival from standard chemotherapy. However, with the advent of immunotherapy and comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic profiling, multiple new targets are showing promise in the clinical arena, and just recently programmed death ligand 1 inhibition has been shown to improve the efficacy of standard chemotherapy in extended-disease SCLC. Our increasing understanding of the interactions between different pathways will enable more tailored immunotherapy and targeted therapies based on specific biomarkers and rational combinations. Here we discuss the preclinical and clinical strides in 2017 and 2018 that put us on the threshold of a new era in therapeutics and will, it is hoped, translate into significant improvements in survival.

24-Month Overall Survival from KEYNOTE-021 Cohort G: Pemetrexed and Carboplatin with or without Pembrolizumab as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cohort G of KEYNOTE-021 (NCT02039674) evaluated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus pemetrexed-carboplatin (PC) versus PC alone as first-line therapy for advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. At the primary analysis (median follow-up time 10.6 months), pembrolizumab significantly improved objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS); the hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS) was 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42‒1.91). Herein, we present an updated analysis. METHODS: A total of 123 patients with previously untreated stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous NSCLC without EGFR and/or ALK receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ALK) aberrations were randomized 1:1 to four cycles of PC with or without pembrolizumab, 200 mg every 3 weeks. Pembrolizumab treatment continued for 2 years; maintenance pemetrexed was permitted in both groups. Eligible patients in the PC-alone group with radiologic progression could cross over to pembrolizumab monotherapy. p Values are nominal (one-sided p < 0.025). RESULTS: As of December 1, 2017, the median follow-up time was 23.9 months. The ORR was 56.7% with pembrolizumab plus PC versus 30.2% with PC alone (estimated difference 26.4% [95% CI: 8.9%‒42.4%, p = 0.0016]). PFS was significantly improved with pembrolizumab plus PC versus PC alone (HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33‒0.86, p = 0.0049). A total of 41 patients in the PC-alone group received subsequent anti‒programmed death 1/anti‒programmed death ligand 1 therapy. The HR for OS was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.32‒0.95, p = 0.0151). Forty-one percent of patients in the pembrolizumab plus PC group and 27% in the PC-alone group had grade 3 to 5 treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The significant improvements in PFS and ORR with pembrolizumab plus PC versus PC alone observed in the primary analysis were maintained, and the HR for OS with a 24-month median follow-up was 0.56, favoring pembrolizumab plus PC.

A phase Ib dose-escalation and expansion study of the oral MEK inhibitor pimasertib and PI3K/MTOR inhibitor voxtalisib in patients with advanced solid tumours.

BACKGROUND: This phase Ib study evaluated the safety, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of pimasertib (MSC1936369B), a MEK1/2 inhibitor, in combination with voxtalisib (SAR245409), a pan-PI3K and mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumours. METHODS: This study included a dose escalation and expansion in patients with select tumour types and alterations in the MAPK or PI3K pathways. A 3 + 3 design was used to determine MTD. Patients were evaluated for adverse events and tumour response. RESULTS: 146 patients were treated, including 63 in dose escalation and 83 in expansion. The MTD was pimasertib 90 mg and voxtalisib 70 mg daily. Based on the safety profile, the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) was pimasertib 60 mg and voxtalisib 70 mg. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were diarrhoea (75%), fatigue (57%), and nausea (50%). Responses included a complete response in one patient (1%), partial response in five (5%), and stable disease in 51 (46%). At the RP2D, 74 patients required dose interruption (73%), 20 required dose reduction (20%), and 26 discontinued treatment due to TEAEs (26%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of pimasertib and voxtalisib showed poor long-term tolerability and limited anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced solid tumours.

Pembrolizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: Phase 1 cohorts from the KEYNOTE-021 study.

OBJECTIVES: Platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has modest benefit overall, but has the potential to amplify immune responses. In cohorts A-C of the multicohort phase 1/2 study KEYNOTE-021 (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02039674), we evaluated combinations of platinum-doublet chemotherapy with the anti-programmed death 1 monocloncal antibody pembrolizumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with previously untreated, advanced NSCLC without EGFR/ALK aberrations were randomized to pembrolizumab 2 or 10 mg/kg Q3W plus carboplatin area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) 6 mg/mL/min plus paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 (cohort A, any histology), carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL/min plus paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab 15 mg/kg (cohort B, non-squamous), or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 (cohort C, non-squamous) for 4 cycles followed by maintenance pembrolizumab (cohort A), pembrolizumab plus bevacizumab (cohort B), or pembrolizumab plus pemetrexed (cohort C). Response was assessed by blinded independent central review. RESULTS: Overall, 74 patients were randomized; median follow-up was 21.4, 16.4, and 17.4 months in cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred in any cohort at either pembrolizumab dose. Most frequent treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were alopecia, fatigue, and nausea. Treatment-related grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 40%, 42%, and 46% of patients in cohorts A, B, and C, respectively; AEs with possible immune etiology occurred in 24%, 50%, and 38% of patients, respectively. Objective response rates were 48%, 56%, and 75% in cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab in combination with carboplatin-paclitaxel and with pemetrexed-carboplatin yielded encouraging antitumor activity and toxicity consistent with known toxicities of platinum-based chemotherapy or pembrolizumab monotherapy.

Safety and clinical activity of atezolizumab monotherapy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: final results from a phase I study.

INTRODUCTION: Atezolizumab, an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody, inhibits PD-L1:PD-1 and PD-L1:B7.1 interactions, restoring anticancer immunity. Here, we report final analyses from the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort of the first atezolizumab phase I study. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC received atezolizumab 1-20 mg/kg or 1200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks. Baseline PD-L1 expression on tumour cells (TCs) and tumour-infiltrating immune cells (ICs) was assessed (VENTANA SP142 immunohistochemistry assay). Exploratory subgroup analyses investigated responses by baseline PD-L1 expression and oncogenic mutational status. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients, 98% of whom had received previous systemic therapy, were evaluable for safety and antitumour activity. Atezolizumab was well tolerated, with grade III/IV treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) observed in 10 patients (11%). All-grade TRAEs occurring in >10% of patients were fatigue, nausea and decreased appetite; grade III/IV TRAEs occurring in >2% of patients were fatigue, dyspnoea, hyponatremia and hypoxia. One patient died from treatment-unrelated pneumonia. Objective response rate (ORR) was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28%-72%), 33% (20%-48%), 29% (18%-41%) and 11% (1%-35%) for the TC3 or IC3, TC2/3 or IC2/3, TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 and TC0 and IC0 subgroups, respectively. All-patient ORR was 23% (95% CI, 14%-33%). Median duration of response was 16.4 months (range, 7.2-53.4+). One-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 63% (95% CI, 53%-73%), 37% (26%-47%) and 28% (18%-38%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Single-agent atezolizumab was well tolerated with long-term clinical benefits, including durable responses and survival, in pretreated NSCLC. Improved responses and survival rates were seen with increasing baseline PD-L1 expression. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01375842.

Patient-reported outcomes in a phase II, North American study of alectinib in patients with ALK-positive, crizotinib-resistant, non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In a phase II North American study (NP28761; NCT01871805), the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib demonstrated both systemic and central nervous system (CNS) efficacy with good tolerability in patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. We describe patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from the NP28761 study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PROs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) benefits were assessed using two self-administered questionnaires (the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-Item Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the 13-item EORTC QLQ-lung cancer-specific module) at enrolment and every 6 weeks until week 66, disease progression or death. RESULTS: Clinically meaningful mean improvements (≥10 point change from baseline) were observed in 10 domains, including global health status (GHS), role and social functioning, fatigue, pain, dyspnoea, and appetite loss. A clinically meaningful improvement was observed in GHS from the first assessment (6 weeks) until week 60. Alectinib demonstrated a rapid effect, with a median time to symptom improvement, using the composite endpoint of cough, dyspnoea and pain in the chest, of 1.4 months (6.1 weeks) (95% CI 1.4 to 1.6) and a median time to symptom deterioration of 5.1 months (22.1 weeks) (95% CI 2.8 to 6.8). Patients with CNS metastases at baseline experienced comparable HRQoL over the duration of the study as patients without CNS metastases. Exploratory analysis showed that the occurrence of an objective response may be associated with a better HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with alectinib in this phase II study achieved clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL and symptoms and had delayed time to symptom deterioration.