Updated efficacy and safety of KEYNOTE-224: A phase II study of pembrolizumab (pembro) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Authors

null

Masatoshi Kudo

Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

Masatoshi Kudo , Richard S. Finn , Julien Edeline , Stéphane Cattan , Sadahisa Ogasawara , Daniel H. Palmer , Chris Verslype , Vittorina Zagonel , Laetitia Fartoux , Arndt Vogel , Debashis Sarker , Gontran Verset , Stephen Lam Chan , Jennifer J. Knox , Bruno Daniele , Ellen B Gurary , Abby B. Siegel , Lokesh Jain , Ann-Lii Cheng , Andrew X. Zhu

Organizations

Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, Medical Oncology, Centre Eugene Marquis, Rennes, France, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Lille, France, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Hopital de la Pitie Salpetriere, Paris, France, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, King's College Hospital, Institute of Liver Studies, London, United Kingdom, ULB-Hopital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium, State Key Laboratory in Oncology of South China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Azienda Ospedaliera G. Rummo, Benevento, Italy, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research Funding

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA

Background: Pembro received accelerated approval in pts with advanced HCC in the second-line setting based on results of the KEYNOTE-224 trial. Results of a 2 y follow-up analysis of the efficacy and safety in this trial are presented here. Methods: Eligible pts had histologically confirmed HCC, radiographic progression on/intolerance to sorafenib and disease not amenable to curative treatment, Child Pugh A, ECOG PS 0-1 and BCLC stage C or B. Pts received pembro 200 mg IV Q3W for 2 y or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, consent withdrawal or investigator decision. Response was assessed every 9 wk. Primary endpoint was ORR (RECIST v1.1, central review). Secondary endpoints were DOR, DCR, PFS, OS and safety. Results: Efficacy and safety were assessed in 104 pts. The median time from randomization to data cutoff (Jun 05, 2019) was 31.2 mo (27.5-35.5 mo). Pt characteristics were: median age 68 y (43-87), 21.2% HBV+, 25% HCV+, 94.2% Child Pugh A, 79.8% had PD on sorafenib, 17.3% had MVI and 64.4% had extrahepatic disease. ORR was 18.3% (95% CI 11.4-27.1) and was similar across subgroups. Median DOR was 21.0 mo (3.1-28+ mo); 77% had responses lasting ≥12 mo (Kaplan Meier). Best overall responses were 4 (3.8%) CRs, 15 (14.4%) PRs, 45 (43.3%) SDs and 34 (32.7%) PDs; DCR was 61.5%. The median PFS (95% CI) was 4.9 mo (3.5-6.7) and OS was 13.2 mo (9.7-15.3). PFS 24 mo rate was 11.3% and OS 24 mo rate was 30.8%. ORR was shown to be a predictor of longer OS by landmark analysis. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 76 (73.1%) pts; the most common AEs were fatigue, increased aspartate aminotransferase, pruritus and diarrhea observed in ≥10% pts. Grade ≥3 treatment related AEs occurred in 27 (26.0%) pts. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 3 (2.9%) pts; no cases of HBV/HCV flare were identified. Conclusions: At 2 y follow-up, pembro continued to provide durable anti-tumor activity and prolonged survival (30.8% OS, 24 mo rate), further supporting its use in previously treated pts with advanced HCC. With longer follow-up, increases in ORR (18.3% vs 17.0%), DOR ≥12 mo (77.0% vs 61.4%) and CR rates (3.8% vs 1%) were seen. The safety profile was similar to the primary analysis. Clinical trial information: NCT02702414

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Hepatobiliary Cancer, Neuroendocrine/Carcinoid, Pancreatic Cancer, and Small Bowel Cancer

Track

Hepatobiliary Cancer,Neuroendocrine/Carcinoid,Pancreatic Cancer,Small Bowel Cancer,Other GI Cancer

Sub Track

Therapeutics

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT02702414

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38, 2020 (suppl 4; abstr 518)

Abstract #

518

Poster Bd #

B21

Abstract Disclosures