Abstract CT074: Non-comparative, open-label, multiple cohort, phase 1/2 study to evaluate nivolumab (NIVO) in patients with virus-associated tumors (CheckMate 358): Efficacy and safety in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)

ABSTRACT Merkel cell polyomavirus is the primary etiological agent of the aggressive skin cancer Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Recent studies have revealed that UV radiation is the primary mechanism for somatic mutagenesis in nonviral forms of MCC. Here, we analyze the whole transcriptomes and genomes of primary MCC tumors. Our study reveals that virus-associated tumors have minimally altered genomes compared to non-virus-associated tumors, which are dominated by UV-mediated mutations. Although virus-associated tumors contain relatively small mutation burdens, they exhibit a distinct mutation signature with observable transcriptionally biased kataegic events. In addition, viral integration sites overlap focal genome amplifications in virus-associated tumors, suggesting a potential mechanism for these events. Collectively, our studies indicate that Merkel cell polyomavirus is capable of hijacking cellular processes and driving tumorigenesis to the same severity as tens of thousands of somatic genome alterations. IMPORTANCE A variety of mutagenic processes that shape the evolution of tumors are critical determinants of disease outcome. Here, we sequenced the entire genome of virus-positive and virus-negative primary Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs), revealing distinct mutation spectra and corresponding expression profiles. Our studies highlight the strong effect that Merkel cell polyomavirus has on the divergent development of viral MCC compared to the somatic alterations that typically drive nonviral tumorigenesis. A more comprehensive understanding of the distinct mutagenic processes operative in viral and nonviral MCCs has implications for the effective treatment of these tumors.

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Non-progression during avelumab treatment is associated with clinically relevant improvements in health-related quality of life in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e21070 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e21070-e21070

Author(s):

Murtuza Bharmal ◽

Fatoumata Fofana ◽

Lisa Mahnke ◽

Michael Schlichting ◽

Howard Kaufman

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Open Label ◽

Health Related

e21070 Background: There is little data on quality of life (QoL) for patients (pts) with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). To better understand how new treatments might impact QoL in MCC, pts with stage IV chemotherapy-treated MCC from a single-arm, open-label, multicenter, international phase 2 trial (NCT02155647) of a novel immunotherapy were followed for QoL and clinical outcomes. Methods: Because there is no MCC-specific QoL instrument, the FACT-Melanoma (FACT-M), a validated QoL questionnaire including multiple subscales and summary scores (Trial Outcome Index [TOI], FACT-G total and FACT-M total) was used. Pts completed the FACT-M at baseline (BL), week 7, every 6 weeks until disease progression (PD) and at end of treatment (EOT). Linear mixed models (LMM) were fitted for change from BL for each scale including the time-varying covariate PD vs non-PD. Established minimal important differences (MID) were used to interpret meaningfulness of changes. Sensitivity analyses explored the effects of missing data. Results: 70 pts were analyzed. Overall, no meaningful changes from BL were observed for each scale during treatment. Moderate correlations between reduction in tumor size and improvements in FACT-M were observed at week 7 for Functional Well-being (-0.47), TOI (-0.36), FACT-M total (-0.36), and FACT-G total (-0.34), suggesting improvements in QoL with tumor shrinkage. LMM showed differences between PD vs non-PD groups in the range of MIDs for Functional Well-being (2.23, p = 0.018), Melanoma (3.19, p = 0.012), Surgery (1.95, p = 0.109), TOI (6.36, p = 0.012) and FACT-G total (3.89, p = 0.105). These models showed improvement for the non-PD group in Emotional Well-being (1.55, p = 0.004) and worsening for the PD group in Physical Well-being (-1.63, p = 0.041), Surgery (-2.09, p = 0.044) and TOI (-4.56, p = 0.036). As expected, all scales worsened in the range of MIDs at EOT, mostly due to PD. Sensitivity analyses were consistent, with modest increases in estimated differences. Conclusions: In pts with metastatic MCC, non-progression during avelumab treatment contributed to statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in health-related QoL. Clinical trial information: NCT02155647.

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18-month efficacy and safety update from JAVELIN Merkel 200 part A: A phase II study of avelumab in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressed on chemotherapy.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.36.5_suppl.192 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (5_suppl) ◽

pp. 192-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sandra P. D'Angelo ◽

Jeffery Scott Russell ◽

Shailender Bhatia ◽

Omid Hamid ◽

Janice M. Mehnert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Objective Response ◽

Safety Data ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Duration Of Response ◽

Grade 3

192 Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer. Avelumab, a human anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, is FDA and EMA approved for the treatment of metastatic MCC (mMCC). Here, we report efficacy and safety data for avelumab in patients (pts) with mMCC at ≥18-mo of follow-up. Methods: Pts with mMCC and progression on prior chemotherapy received avelumab 10 mg/kg IV Q2W. Objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated by independent review committee (RECIST v1.1) with tumor assessment every 6 wks; overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs; NCI CTCAE v4.0) were also evaluated. Results: As of Mar 24, 2017, 88 pts were treated and followed for a median of 23.0 mo (range 18.7–32.0). Median treatment duration was 17 wks (range 2–132; mean 35 wks ±37). Treatment was ongoing in 15 pts (17%); 7 pts (8%) voluntarily discontinued with continuing responses (5 complete responses [CR] and 2 partial responses). Other reasons for discontinuation were disease progression (n = 42; 48%), death (n = 10; 11%), AE (n = 8; 9%), or consent withdrawal/other (n = 6; 7%). Confirmed ORR of 33% (95% CI 23.3–43.8; CR in 11.4%) remained unchanged from previous analysis and median DOR has not been reached (range 2.8–24.9 mo; 95% CI 18.0–not estimable). Responses were ongoing in 20/29 pts (69%), including 5 pts with > 2 y of follow-up. PFS curve showed a plateau with identical 12- and 18-mo rates of 29% (95% CI 19–39). Median OS was 12.6 mo (95% CI 7.5-19.0) and the 12- and 18-mo OS rates were 51% (95% CI 40–61) and 40% (95% CI 29–50), respectively. 66 pts (75%) had a treatment-related (TR)AE, most commonly ( > 10%) fatigue (25%), infusion-related reaction (15%; all grade 1/2), nausea (11%), and diarrhea (11%); 8 (9%) had a grade ≥3 TRAE. 17 pts (19%) had an immune-related AE, which was grade ≥3 in 4 pts (4.5%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Updated results demonstrate continued durable antitumor activity of avelumab in pts with mMCC, beyond that expected with cytotoxic chemotherapy. The median OS exceeding 1 y and manageable safety profile of avelumab signify a clinically meaningful benefit in pts with mMCC. Clinical trial information: NCT02155647.

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An open label, multicenter, phase II study of KRT-232, an oral small molecule inhibitor of MDM2, for the treatment of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) who have failed treatment with anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapy.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.tps9602 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. TPS9602-TPS9602 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Glenn J. Hanna ◽

James A. DeCaprio ◽

John Hai Ming Mei ◽

Jesse S. McGreivy

Keyword(s):

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Small Molecule ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

P53 Protein ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Chromosome 2 ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Open Label ◽

Stage 1

TPS9602 Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with a poor prognosis in patients with advanced disease, with mortality as high as 46%. An oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is present in about 80% of MCC tumors, which inactivates tumor suppressors p53 and RB. Virus-positive MCC has proven to be an immunologically responsive disease and the recently approved PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab (March 2017) has improved the prognosis of patients with advanced MCC. However, despite the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to the treatment paradigm, a lack of response or disease progression occurs in up to two-thirds of avelumab patients previously treated with chemotherapy, and 32-44% of first-line patients treated with the PD-1 inhibitors nivolumab or pembrolizumab. KRT-232 is a potent and selective small molecule targeted drug that binds to murine double minute chromosome 2 (MDM2) and inhibits the MDM2/tumor protein 53 (p53) protein-protein interaction. Inactivating mutations in p53 have rarely been found in MCC, and the majority of MCCs with the presence of MCPyV express p53WT. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of KRT-232 in p53WT MCC patients who have been treated with anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapy. Methods: The primary objective is ORR by RECIST v1.1 after 2 cycles (42 days) as determined by independent review. A Simon two-stage design is employed. In Stage 1, up to 13 eligible patients will be enrolled and treated with 240 mg KRT-232 once daily (QD) on Days 1-7 of a 21-day cycle. If the predesignated efficacy threshold is reached in Stage 1, enrollment for Stage 2 will include an additional 14 patients (for a total of 27 patients). The study is enrolling in the U.S. Clinical trial information: NCT03787602.

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