scholarly journals Immunotherapy Discontinuation in Metastatic Melanoma: Lessons from Real-Life Clinical Experience

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3074
Author(s):  
Nethanel Asher ◽  
Noa Israeli-Weller ◽  
Ronnie Shapira-Frommer ◽  
Guy Ben-Betzalel ◽  
Jacob Schachter ◽  
...  

Background: Immunotherapy has revolutionized outcomes for melanoma patients, by significantly prolonging survival and probably even curing a fraction of metastatic patients. In daily practice, treatment for responding patients is often discontinued due to treatment-limiting toxicity, or electively, following a major tumor response. To date, the criteria for a safe stop and the optimal duration of treatment remain unclear. Patients and methods: This is a real-world single-site cohort of 106 advanced melanoma patients who were treated with immunotherapy and who discontinued treatments in the absence of disease progression. Here, we describe their long-term outcomes, and analyze the differential characteristics between patients who ultimately experienced progression and those who remained in unmaintained durable response. Results: Patients were treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy (81%) or in combination with ipilimumab (19%) for a median of 15.2 m (range, 0.7–42.3 m). Upon discontinuation, 75.5% had achieved a complete response (CR). After a median follow-up of 20.8 m (range, 6–58) from discontinuation, 32% experienced disease progression. Median time to progression was 8.5 m (range, 1.5–37). Response to re-induction with anti-PD-1 was observed in 47%. On multivariate analysis, achieving a non-CR response, immunotherapy given in advanced line, and shorter treatment duration were significantly associated with lesser progression-free survival. Conclusions: This is one of the few reports on real-world melanoma patients who discontinued immunotherapy while responding to treatment. This study reveals the key factors to bear in mind when considering an elective treatment cessation. Specifically, patients with non-CR as best response and patients treated in an advanced-line setting should be treated for longer periods, and elective discontinuation should not take place prior to 18 m.

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergely Varga ◽  
András Dávid Tóth ◽  
Virág Réka Szita ◽  
Zoltán Csukly ◽  
Apor Hardi ◽  
...  

In Hungary, the cost of lenalidomide-based therapy is covered only for relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) patients, therefore lenalidomide is typically used in the second-line either as part of a triplet with proteasome inhibitors or as a doublet. Lenalidomide-dexamethasone is a standard treatment approach for relapsed/refractory MM, and according to recent large randomized clinical trials (RCT, the standard arm of POLLUX, ASPIRE, TOURMALINE), the progression-free survival (PFS) is expected to be approximately 18 months. We surveyed ten Hungarian centers treating MM and collected data of 278 patients treated predominantly after 2016. The median age was 65 years, and patients were distributed roughly equally over the 3 international staging system groups, but patients with high risk cytogenetics were underrepresented. 15.8% of the patients reached complete response, 21.6% very good partial response, 40.6% partial response, 10.8% stable disease, and 2.5% progressed on treatment. The median PFS was unexpectedly long, 24 months, however only 9 months in those with high risk cytogenetics. We found interesting differences between centers regarding corticosteroid type (prednisolone, methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) and dosing, and also regarding the choice of anticoagulation, but the outcome of the various centers were not different. Although the higher equivalent steroid dose resulted in more complete responses, the median PFS of those having lower corticosteroid dose and methylprednisolone were not inferior compared to the ones with higher dose dexamethasone. On multivariate analysis high risk cytogenetics and the number of prior lines remained significant independent prognostic factors regarding PFS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005). Our results show that in well-selected patients Lenalidomide-dexamethasone can be a very effective treatment with real-world results that may even outperform those reported in the recent RCTs. This real world information may be more valuable than outdated RCT data when treatment options are discussed with patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-272
Author(s):  
Ivica Pejčić ◽  
Ivan Petković ◽  
Ana Cvetanović ◽  
Irena Conić

Abstract The aim of the paper was to determine the efficacy, toxicity and progression free survival with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy pembrolizumab in BRAF wild type metastatic melanoma patients with good performance status (ECOG PS 0-1). From February 2017 to April 2018, 17 patients with BRAF mutant wild type metastatic melanoma were enrolled in the study. Only 3/17 patient had received chemotherapy previously. The aim of the study was to confirm the efficacy of pembrolizumab immunotherapy in patients with good performance status (ECOG 0-1). Treatment consisted of pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg Q3 weeks continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Secondary end points included toxicity and progression-free survival (defined as the time from randomization to documented disease progression according to RECIST). The overall response rate (ORR) was 11/17 (53.0 %), with complete response (CR) 0, partial response (PR) 3 (18 %), stable disease (SD) 8 (47%), and progressive disease (PD) 6 (35%). A total number of 97 consecutive cycles were administered. Adverse effects were mild. The most common toxicity was pneumonitis grade 1. None of the patients in the study demonstrated grade 2, 3 and 4 toxicity. No treatment-related deaths occurred. The median time to disease progression was 5.8 months. Anti-PD-1 pembrolizumab immunotherapy appeared to be a beneficial therapeutic approach with less toxicity for metastatic BRAF wild type melanoma patients with good PS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9082-9082
Author(s):  
Geoffroy Bilger ◽  
Nicolas Girard ◽  
Helene Doubre ◽  
Matteo Giaj Levra ◽  
Etienne Giroux Leprieur ◽  
...  

9082 Background: The optimal treatment duration of ICIs for patients with NSCLC remains uncertain. In phase 3 clinical trials, treatment continued for two years or until disease progression, and results from CheckMate 153 trial suggest to continue beyond one year. Real life data are missing. Methods: This multi-centric retrospective study presents data on real-life patients who discontinued treatment after at least 18 months of ICI monotherapy, their tumour being still controlled. Their characteristics, the causes of discontinuation of ICI, and their outcome are described. Results: Between July 2015 and May 2018, 107 patients had their tumour controlled after at least 18 months of treatment. Among them, 54 (50%) patients discontinued ICI: 76% male, median age 63, 91% PS 0-1, 54% adenocarcinoma, 20% with brain metastases, PD-L1 expression level available for 18 (33%) patients (2 < 1%, 8 btw 1-50% and 8 > 50%), 93% treated after 1st line. The median duration of treatment was 26 months. Treatment was stopped by choice of the prescriber and toxicity in 46% and 22% respectively. With a median follow up of 21 months from ICI discontinuation, 18 (33%) patients had a tumor progression with a median time of 10 months (2-33). From discontinuation, overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 90% and 71% respectively at 12 months and 84% and 63% respectively at 24 months. Duration of disease control after ICI cessation seemed to be correlated to the best tumor response at treatment discontinuation, with a PFS rates at 12 months of 73% for complete response (CR n = 11), 77% for partial response (PR n = 37), 22% for patients with stable disease (SD n = 6), 80% for CR and/or complete metabolic response with 18F-FDG PET/CT (CMR) and 65% for others. Fourteen patients out of the 18 in the relapse group received a subsequent treatment : 7 were retreated with ICI (with best response 14% PR and 86% SD) and 5 received a localized therapy with 60% CR. Conclusions: Our study in real life provides new insight into the long-term outcomes of patients treated with ICI for at least 18 months before discontinuation in the absence of PD. CR and CMR with FDG-PET before therapy discontinuation may be a positive factor for a prolonged disease control upon discontinuation.


Author(s):  
Maaike Biewenga ◽  
Monique K. van der Kooij ◽  
Michel W. J. M. Wouters ◽  
Maureen J. B. Aarts ◽  
Franchette W. P. J. van den Berkmortel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatitis is an immune-related adverse event of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibition, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated 4 (CTLA-4) inhibition or the combination of both. Aim of this study was to assess whether checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatitis is related to liver metastasis and outcome in a real-world nationwide cohort. Methods Data from the prospective nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (DMTR) was used to analyze incidence, risk factors of checkpoint inhibitor-induced grade 3–4 hepatitis and outcome. Results 2561 advanced cutaneous melanoma patients received 3111 treatments with checkpoint inhibitors between May 2012 and January 2019. Severe hepatitis occurred in 30/1620 (1.8%) patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors, in 29/1105 (2.6%) patients treated with ipilimumab and in 80/386 (20.7%) patients treated with combination therapy. Patients with hepatitis had a similar prevalence of liver metastasis compared to patients without hepatitis (32% vs. 27%; p = 0.58 for PD-1 inhibitors; 42% vs. 29%; p = 0.16 for ipilimumab; 38% vs. 43%; p = 0.50 for combination therapy). There was no difference in median progression free and overall survival between patients with and without hepatitis (6.0 months vs. 5.4 months progression-free survival; p = 0.61; 17.0 vs. 16.2 months overall survival; p = 0.44). Conclusion Incidence of hepatitis in a real-world cohort is 1.8% for PD-1 inhibitor, 2.6% for ipilimumab and 20.7% for combination therapy. Checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatitis had no relation with liver metastasis and had no negative effect on the outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001701
Author(s):  
Julia Maria Ressler ◽  
Matthias Karasek ◽  
Lukas Koch ◽  
Rita Silmbrod ◽  
Joanna Mangana ◽  
...  

BackgroundTalimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a licensed therapy for use in melanoma patients of stage IIIB-IVM1a with injectable, unresectable metastatic lesions in Europe. Approval was based on the Oncovex Pivotal Trial in Melanoma study, which also included patients with distant metastases and demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 40.5% and a complete response (CR) rate of 16.6%.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the outcome of melanoma patients treated with T-VEC in a real-life clinical setting.MethodsBased on data from 10 melanoma centers in Austria, Switzerland and southern Germany, we conducted a retrospective chart review, which included 88 patients (44 male, 44 female) with a median age of 72 years (range 36–95 years) treated with T-VEC during the period from May 2016 to January 2020.Results88 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for analysis. The ORR was 63.7%. 38 patients (43.2%) showed a CR, 18 (20.5%) had a partial response, 8 (9.1%) had stable disease and 24 (27.3%) patients had a progressive disease. The median treatment period was 19 weeks (range: 1–65), an average of 11 doses (range: 1–36) were applied. 39 (45.3%) patients developed adverse events, mostly mild, grade I (64.1%).ConclusionThis real-life cohort treatment with T-VEC showed a high ORR and a large number of durable CRs.


Liver Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Myung Ji Goh ◽  
Joo Hyun Oh ◽  
Yewan Park ◽  
Jihye Kim ◽  
Wonseok Kang ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Lenvatinib has been recently approved as a first-line treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib therapy in a real-world practice and to find prognostic factors related to survival and disease progression. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted on 111 consecutive patients who had unresectable HCC and were treated with lenvatinib at Samsung Medical Center from October 2018 to March 2020. Efficacy was determined using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria in 111 patients who completed 1st tumor assessment. Safety was evaluated in 116 HCC patients including 5 patients who discontinued lenvatinib due to adverse events (AEs) before 1st tumor assessment using Common Terminology Criteria for AEs version 5.0. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 111 patients with a median age of 59 years were analyzed during a median follow-up duration of 6.2 (4.4–9.0) months. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall survival was 10.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 6.2 months. Based on mRECIST criteria, the objective response rate was 18.9% and disease control rate was 75.7%. AEs developed in 86/116 (74.1%) patients, and grade ≥3 AEs developed in 16/116 (13.8%) patients. Diarrhea, hand-foot skin rash, abdominal pain, hypertension, and anorexia were identified as the AEs with the highest frequencies of any grade. REFLECT eligibility criteria including tumor extent ≥50% liver occupation or inadequate bone marrow function and occurrence of anorexia were prognostic factors for survival, and occurrence of diarrhea was a favorable factor for disease progression. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Lenvatinib therapy showed a favorable efficacy and safety in a real-world practice. The REFLECT eligibility criteria and specific AEs could be one of the prognostic markers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175883592098055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaj Frost ◽  
Petros Christopoulos ◽  
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero ◽  
Jan Stratmann ◽  
Richard Riedel ◽  
...  

Introduction: We report on the results of the German early access program (EAP) with the third-generation ALK- and ROS1-inhibitor lorlatinib. Patients and Methods: Patients with documented treatment failure of all approved ALK/ROS1-specific therapies or with resistance mutations not covered by approved inhibitors or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis were enrolled and analyzed. Results: In total, 52 patients were included [median age 57 years (range 32–81), 54% female, 62% never smokers, 98% adenocarcinoma]; 71% and 29% were ALK- and ROS1-positive, respectively. G1202R and G2032R resistance mutations prior to treatment with lorlatinib were observed in 10 of 26 evaluable patients (39%), 11 of 39 patients showed TP53 mutations (28%). Thirty-six patients (69%) had active brain metastases (BM) and nine (17%) leptomeningeal carcinomatosis when entering the EAP. Median number of prior specific TKIs was 3 (range 1–4). Median duration of treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), response rate and time to treatment failure were 10.4 months, 8.0 months, 54% and 13.0 months. Calculated 12-, 18- and 24-months survival rates were 65, 54 and 47%, overall survival since primary diagnosis (OS2) reached 79.6 months. TP53 mutations were associated with a substantially reduced PFS (3.7 versus 10.8 month, HR 3.3, p = 0.003) and were also identified as a strong prognostic biomarker (HR for OS2 3.0 p = 0.02). Neither prior treatments with second-generation TKIs nor BM had a significant influence on PFS and OS. Conclusions: Our data from real-life practice demonstrate the efficacy of lorlatinib in mostly heavily pretreated patients, providing a clinically meaningful option for patients with resistance mutations not covered by other targeted therapies and those with BM or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20015-e20015
Author(s):  
Kihyun Kim ◽  
Chang Ki Min ◽  
Youngil Koh ◽  
Kenichi Ishizawa ◽  
Sung-Hyun Kim ◽  
...  

e20015 Background: The Phase 3 IKEMA study (NCT03275285) demonstrated that isatuximab (Isa) plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with Kd in patients (pts) with relapsed multiple myeloma (RMM) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53; 99% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.89; P= 0.0007). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Isa-Kd in the East Asian patients (19 Japanese, 27 Korean). Methods: RMM pts who received 1-3 prior lines of therapy were stratified to receive Isa-Kd or Kd. Isa-Kd arm received Isa (10 mg/kg intravenously) weekly for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks. Both arms received K (20 mg/m2 days 1-2, 56 mg/m2 thereafter) twice-weekly for 3 of 4 weeks, and d (20 mg) twice-weekly. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable adverse events (AE). The primary endpoint was prolongation of PFS. Key secondary endpoints included; very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), complete response (CR) rate and minimal residual disease negativity (MRD–) rate. Results: East Asian pts (25 Isa-Kd, 21 Kd) were randomized. Pt characteristics were similar in the East Asian subgroup compared with the intent to treat (ITT) population (N = 302). Median age (Isa-Kd 64.0 [range 45–83] years vs Kd 60.0 [range 33–73] years); median prior lines Isa-Kd 2.0 (range 1–3) vs Kd 1.0 (range 1–3); refractory to lenalidomide 16.0% Isa-Kd vs 47.6% Kd; refractory to PI 20.0% Isa-Kd vs 33.3% Kd; high-risk cytogenetics 48.0% Isa-Kd vs 42.9% Kd. After a median follow-up of 20.7 months, the addition of Isa to Kd improved ≥VGPR, CR and MRD– rates (Table). The HR 0.64 (95%CI: 0.231-1.764) for disease progression or death favored Isa-Kd. Grade ≥3 AEs were observed in 79.2% Isa-Kd vs 55.0% Kd pts, serious TEAEs in 45.8% Isa-Kd vs 50.0% Kd; TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation were lower in the Isa-Kd group (4.2% Isa-Kd vs 10.0% Kd). Overall, 64.0% Isa-Kd vs 42.9% Kd pts were still receiving treatment. Conclusions: Efficacy and safety results of Isa-Kd in East Asian pts are consistent with the results of the overall IKEMA population, in which significantly better efficacy (PFS, CR, ≥VGPR and MRD– rate) was reported in favor of Isa-Kd without an increase in the number of patients with serious TEAEs or discontinuations. Isa-Kd is a potential treatment option for East Asian pts with RMM. Clinical trial information: NCT03275285. [Table: see text]


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 496-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadettin Kilickap ◽  
Deniz C Guven ◽  
Oktay H Aktepe ◽  
Burak Y Aktas ◽  
Omer Dizdar

In the last decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors changed the landscape of metastatic melanoma. However, the optimal duration of treatment and treatment cessation in responders is largely unknown. Herein, we represent a heavily pretreated metastatic melanoma case who had a complete response to pembrolizumab and also a complete response with nivolumab after progression during drug-free follow-up. We think that reinduction with a different anti-PD1 antibody may be used in patients with metastatic melanoma responders. Clinical trials with prespecified sequential treatment protocols and large real-life data can further delineate this subject.


2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522096861
Author(s):  
Lucie Oberic ◽  
Faustine Delzor ◽  
Caroline Protin ◽  
Sophie Perriat ◽  
Camille Laurent ◽  
...  

Introduction Brentuximab vedotin (Bv) has been approved for the treatment of Refractory/Relapsed (R/R) Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphomas (ALCL) and cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas, but is also effective in other CD30+ malignancies. We report here the outcomes of patients with various R/R Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) treated with Bv in real life practice. Method This was a retrospective, single-center study based on medical records of patients with R/R PTCL treated either with Bv alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Results Among 27 patients treated with Bv, neutropenia was the main serious adverse event observed in particular when Bv was used as combination treatment. The complete Response Rates (CRR) was 40.7%; it was significantly improved when Bv was used as combination treatment. The majority of eligible patients (7/10) underwent Stem Cell Transplantation. Median Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) were 5.2 months and 12.5 months respectively. Conclusion Our current study shows that Bv used in combination with chemotherapy provides a high CRR and thereby allows SCT in R/R PTCL. The use of Bv treatments in this setting warrants further investigation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document