scholarly journals Neoadjuvant chemo-free combination of camrelizumab and apatinib for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma – A pilot study

Author(s):  
Wu-tong Ju ◽  
Rong-hui Xia ◽  
Dong-wang Zhu ◽  
Sheng-jin Dou ◽  
Guo-pei Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Novel neoadjuvant therapy regimens are needed to improve the outcomes of patients with locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We conducted a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial (n = 21, NCT04393506) to determine the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant camrelizumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) plus apatinib (a VEGFR inhibitor) for locally advanced resectable OSCC. The primary endpoints were safety and major pathological response (MPR). Neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus apatinib was well-tolerated and the MPR rate was 40% (8/20), meeting the primary endpoint. All five patients with CPS ˃ 10 had MPR. Additionally, patients achieving MPR showed more CD4+ T cell infiltration and a higher CD8+/FoxP3+ ratio than those without MPR (p < 0.05), and decreased CD31 and ɑ-SMA expression were observed after neoadjuvant therapy. Our findings demonstrate that neoadjuvant therapy with a chemo-free combination of camrelizumab and apatinib is safe and yields a promising MPR rate, supporting further trials.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16029-e16029
Author(s):  
Delin Liu ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Jinghua Zhu ◽  
Ting Qian ◽  
Rong Yin ◽  
...  

e16029 Background: Compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone,Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy can significantly increase pCR rate in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and improve patient overall survival. However, the addition of radiotherapy increases the risk of adverse reactions and surgery. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is currently used in < 5% of Chinese patients.The purpose of this phase II study is to assess the efficacy and safety of toripalimab combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1900025318). Methods: Patients 18–75 years old with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, assessed to be locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (cT1–cT2, N+; cT3–cT4 a, any N), and expected to be resectable were given toripalimab (240 mg d1 + PTX 175 mg/m2 + PDD 75 mg/m2 q3w) before surgery for two treatment cycles, followed by efficacy assessment. A consultation meeting with thoracic surgeons was held to assess radical surgery for patients with resectable lesions 4–6 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy was completed. pCR and postoperative-stage statistical analysis were conducted based on postoperative pathology test results. These results were used to determine the efficacy and safety of PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Results: By December 2020, 23 subjects were enrolled. Of the subjects, five withdrew without undergoing surgery (three subjects refused surgery and switched to radical radiochemotherapy, one subject progressed to PD after two cycles of neoadjuvant therapy and switched to palliative treatment, and one subject could not undergo surgery after neoadjuvant treatment and gave up the treatment) and 18 evaluable patients underwent surgery. The R0 resection rate was 100%, and T0–Tis 33.3% (6/18) achieved pCR. Among these patients, 61.1% (11/18) achieved T0–T1 after surgery, and 72.2% (13/18) achieved N0. Moreover, stage reduction effects were significant compared with preoperative TN staging. Common side-effects include nausea, vomiting, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, rash, asthenia, constipation, and muscle soreness. Most adverse events were grades 1–2, and grades 3/4 adverse events include one case of grade 3 neutropenia and one case of grade 3 diarrhea (suspected immune-related colitis), which improved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: Toripalimab combined with the TP scheme showed preliminary efficacy and controllable safety in the treatment of resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and is worthy of further exploration. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR1900025318.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16033-e16033
Author(s):  
Jianqun Ma ◽  
Jinfeng Zhang ◽  
Yingnan Yang ◽  
Dayong Zheng ◽  
Xiaoyuan Wang ◽  
...  

e16033 Background: Camrelizumab has been approved as a standard therapy in the second-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with commonly used neoadjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel and platinum) in neoadjuvant treatment of ESCC. Methods: In this single-arm, phase Ⅱ study, patients with advanced ESCC who were expected to receive neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery were recruited. The patients received 2-4 cycles of camrelizumab (200mg, iv, q3w) in combination with paclitaxel (155mg/m2, iv, q3w) and nedaplatin (80mg/m2, iv, q3w) as neoadjuvant therapy, and the therapeutic effects were determined every 2 cycles. The radical surgery was performed on patients whose tumors were evaluated as resectable. The primary endpoint was pCR, and the secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results: From May 2020 to January 2021, 24 patients with a median age of 60.5 years (50-73) were enrolled. Among them, 21 patients were available for efficacy analysis, of which 1 achieved complete response (CR), 7 achieved partial response (PR), and 13 had stable disease (SD). The ORR was 38.1% and DCR was 100%. The tumor in 10 patients shrank significantly after neoadjuvant therapy and these patients preferred radiotherapy instead of surgery as the radical therapeutic method. 2 patients abandoned surgery because of personal reasons. 2 patients were in the process of neoadjuvant therapy and had not undergone surgery yet. The remaining 7 patients underwent radical surgery and 4 patients (57.14%) achieved pCR (pT0N0M0). The main treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse event (AE) was neutropenia (1/21). All the AEs were manageable. The average intraoperative blood loss was 221mL and the average hospitalization time after operation was 12.7 days (range 8-19 days). No anastomotic leakage and treatment-related death occurred. Conclusions: Camrelizumab in combination with paclitaxel and platinum as a neoadjuvant therapy was well tolerated. The pCR rate of 57.14% was higher than the expected 40%. This encouraging result promoted us to continue this phase Ⅱ study. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2000033761.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6052-6052
Author(s):  
Lai-Ping Zhong ◽  
Wu-tong Ju ◽  
Rong-hui Xia ◽  
Qi Zhu ◽  
Guopei Zhu ◽  
...  

6052 Background: In patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (LAOSCC), major pathologic response (MPR) to induction therapy may translate into improved survival. The induction therapy using chemo-free drugs, such as the combination of anti-PD1 and anti-VEGFR drugs, has not been well issued in LAOSCC. Methods: A prospective single arm trial (NCT04393506) has been performed to evaluate the induction therapy of anti-PD1 and anti-VEGFR protocol in LAOSCC patients at clinical stage III and IVA. The patients received three cycles of intravenous Camrelizumab (PD-1 antibody, 200mg) on d1, d15, d29; and oral Apatinib (anti-VEGFR inhibitor, 250mg) daily, initiating on d1, ending on the 5th day before surgery. Radical surgery was planned on d42-d45. Post-operative radiotherapy was planned within 1.5 months after surgery, based on clinical and pathological stage. The primary endpoints were MPR and safety; primary tumors were assessed for the percentage of residual viable tumor that was identified on HE staining, and tumors with no more than 10% viable tumor cells were considered as MPR. This study has been approved by institutional ethics committee at Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Results: From April to December 2020, 21 patients were enrolled in this trial, and one patient withdraw from the trial at the beginning of treatment. The induction therapy was well-tolerated with no grade 3-4 toxicity or serve induction therapy-related AEs. One patient required surgery delay for 7 days due to unexplainable cTnI elevation. One patient put off Camrelizumab for 14 days due to grade 2 thrombocytopenia. One patient suspended Apatinib for 21 days due to grade 2 Hyperbilirubinemia. The induction therapy did not effect on the subsequent standard treatment. MPR rate was 40% (8/20), including 5% (1/20) pCR. Radiological evaluation of response to induction therapy showed 3 PR, 10 SD, 5 PD and 2 NA. Weak correlation was found between pathologic and radiological evaluation on induction therapy. Combined positive score (CPS) of PD-L1 expression in biopsy was evaluated in 19 patients; all 4 patients with CPS≥ 20 had MPR, 3 out of 11 patients with 1≤CPS < 20 had MPR, and 1 out of 4 patients with CPS < 1 had MPR. Conclusions: The chemo-free protocol of induction therapy using Camrelizumab and Apatinib is safe and well-tolerated for the patients with LAOSCC. The MPR rate is much higher using the anti-PD1 and anti-VEGFR protocol than the traditional induction chemotherapy protocol in LAOSCC. Clinical trial information: NCT04393506.


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