Clinical response, progression-free survival (PFS) and safety in patients (pts) with advanced melanoma (MEL) receiving nivolumab (NIVO) combined with ipilimumab (IPI) versus IPI monotherapy in CheckMate 069 study (#163)
Aims: Combined blockade of T-cell checkpoints by NIVO and IPI demonstrated a high objective response rate (ORR), promising overall survival and a manageable safety profile in pts with advanced MEL. We report efficacy and safety of NIVO + IPI vs IPI alone in treatment-naïve pts with advanced MEL in a phase 2 study.
Methods: Pts (N=142) with metastatic or unresectable MEL were randomized 2:1 to receive IPI 3 mg/kg combined with either NIVO 1 mg/kg or placebo Q3W × 4, followed by NIVO 3 mg/kg or placebo Q2W until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was ORR in BRAF wild-type (WT) pts. Secondary and exploratory objectives included PFS in BRAF WT pts, ORR and PFS in BRAF V600 mutation-positive (MT) pts, and safety.
Results: In BRAF WT pts (n=109), ORR was 61% (44/72) for NIVO + IPI; 11% (4/37) for IPI alone (P<0.0001); complete responses were reported in 16 (22%) and 0 pts, respectively; median PFS was not reached and 4.4 months, respectively (P=0.0006). Higher ORR was observed for NIVO + IPI vs IPI in poor prognostic pt subgroups: elevated baseline lactate dehydrogenase (53% vs 0%); M1c stage disease (65% vs 25%). Similar ORR and PFS were observed in 33 BRAF MT pts. Grade 3–4 drug-related adverse events were reported in 54% of pts receiving NIVO + IPI and 24% for IPI alone, the majority of which resolved with the use of immune modulatory medication.
Conclusions: NIVO + IPI significantly improved ORR and PFS compared with IPI alone, had a safety profile generally managed with established safety guidelines, and provided a favorable risk-benefit ratio in treatment-naïve pts with advanced MEL.
Reused with permission from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This abstract was accepted and previously presented at the 2015 ASCO Annual Meeting. All rights reserved.