First-line (1L) nivolumab (NIVO) plus chemotherapy (chemo) versus chemo in advanced gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer/esophageal adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC/EAC): Expanded efficacy and safety data from CheckMate 649.

Authors

null

Markus H. Moehler

Johannes-Gutenberg University Clinic, Mainz, Germany

Markus H. Moehler , Kohei Shitara , Marcelo Garrido , Pamela Salman , Lin Shen , Lucjan Wyrwicz , Kensei Yamaguchi , Tomasz Skoczylas , Arinilda Silva Campos Bragagnoli , Tianshu Liu , Michael Schenker , Patricio Eduardo Yanez , Mustapha Tehfe , Mingshun Li , Dana Cullen , Arteid Memaj , Ming Lei , Hong Xiao , Yelena Y. Janjigian , Jaffer A. Ajani

Organizations

Johannes-Gutenberg University Clinic, Mainz, Germany, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan, Clinica San Carlos de Apoquindo, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile, Fundación Arturo López Pérez, Providencia, Chile, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China, Klinika Onkologii i Radioterapii, Narodowy Instytut Onkologii, Warsaw, Poland, The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR, Tokyo, Japan, II Klinika Chirurgii Ogólnej, Gastroenterologicznej i Nowotworów Układu Pokarmowego, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland, Fundacao Pio Xii Hosp Cancer De Barretos, Barretos, Brazil, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China, SF Nectarie Oncology Center, Craiova, Romania, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile, Oncology Center–Centre Hospitalier de l’université de Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Funding

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company
Bristol Myers Squibb

Background: CheckMate 649 is the largest randomized, global phase 3 study of 1L programmed death (PD)-1 inhibitor–based therapy in GC/GEJC/EAC. 1L NIVO + chemo demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) vs chemo, with progression-free survival (PFS) benefit and an acceptable safety profile in pts whose tumors expressed PD-ligand (L)1 at combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5 and ≥ 1, and in all randomized pts (Moehler et al. Ann Oncol 2020). We report additional data for all randomized pts. Methods: Eligible pts had previously untreated, unresectable advanced or metastatic GC/GEJC/EAC. Known HER2-positive pts were excluded. Pts were randomized to receive NIVO (360 mg Q3W or 240 mg Q2W) + chemo (XELOX Q3W or FOLFOX Q2W), NIVO + ipilimumab, or chemo. Dual primary endpoints for NIVO + chemo vs chemo were OS and PFS by blinded central review in PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5 pts. Hierarchically tested secondary endpoints were OS in PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 and all randomized pts. Results: At 12-month minimum follow-up for 1581 randomized pts, NIVO + chemo had a statistically significant OS benefit vs chemo (HR 0.80 [99.3% CI 0.68–0.94; P = 0.0002]) in all randomized pts; PFS benefit was also seen (HR 0.77 [95% CI 0.68–0.87]). OS benefit was observed in multiple prespecified subgroups, consistent with the primary population. Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 59% (NIVO + chemo) and 44% (chemo) of pts. TRAEs with potential immunologic etiology (select TRAEs; sTRAEs) are shown in the table. Pts in the NIVO + chemo arm had decreased risk of symptom deterioration on treatment vs those in the chemo arm (HR 0.77 [95% CI 0.63–0.95; P = 0.0129]). Tolerability as measured by the FACT-Ga GP5 item was similar in both treatment groups. Conclusions: The addition of NIVO to chemo demonstrated improved OS and PFS benefit in all randomized pts, along with an acceptable safety profile and maintained tolerability as well as QoL, providing further support for NIVO + chemo as a standard 1L treatment for advanced GC/GEJC/EAC. Clinical trial information: NCT02872116

sTRAEs (NIVO + chemo, N = 782).

Pts with sTRAEs,

n (%)
Median time to onset (range), weeks
Median time to resolution (range),b weeks
Pts with resolution of sTRAEs,b

n (%)
Any grade
Grade 3–4a
Endocrine
107 (14)
5 (< 1)
15.0 (2.0–124.3)
72.1 (0.4–139.1+)
46 (43)
GI
262 (34)
43 (5)
4.3 (0.1–93.6)
1.6 (0.1–117.6+)
228 (87)
Hepatic
203 (26)
29 (4)
7.9 (0.1–61.3)
10.1 (0.4–150.6+)
156 (78)
Pulmonary
40 (5)
14 (2)
23.9 (1.6–96.9)
10.1 (0.3+ to 121.3+)
28 (70)
Renal
26 (3)
6 (< 1)
12.4 (1.7–59.4)
3.1 (0.1–42.4+)
19 (73)
Skin
214 (27)
26 (3)
9.6 (0.1–97.4)
23.4 (0.1–153.6+)
124 (58)

aThere were no grade 5 events; bEvents without a stop date or where stop date was death date were considered unresolved. Events without worsening from baseline were excluded.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Track

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Sub Track

Esophageal or Gastric Cancer

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT02872116

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 4002)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.4002

Abstract #

4002

Abstract Disclosures