Nivolumab (NIVO) + tacrolimus (TACRO) + prednisone (PRED) +/- ipilimumab (IPI) for kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with advanced cutaneous cancers.

Authors

Kara M. Schenk

Kara M. Schenk

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD

Kara M. Schenk , Julie E. Stein , Sunandana Chandra , Diwakar Davar , Zeynep Eroglu , Nikhil I. Khushalani , Jason J. Luke , Patrick Alexander Ott , Jeffrey A. Sosman , Vikram Aggarwal , Megan Davis Schollenberger , William Howard Sharfman , Elad Sharon , Serena M. Bagnasco , Janis M. Taube , Suzanne Louise Topalian , Daniel C. Brennan , Evan J. Lipson

Organizations

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Vanderbilt University Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Johns Hopkins Department of Oncology, Baltimore, MD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, Oncology and Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center, Baltimore, MD, Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
The Marilyn and Michael Glosserman Fund for Basal Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma Research, and The Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death among KTR, but these patients (pts) have been excluded from trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors due to immunosuppression and risk of allograft loss. We report findings from the first prospective clinical trial of NIVO + TACRO + PRED +/- IPI in KTR with selected advanced cutaneous cancers. Methods: The primary composite endpoint was lack of tumor progression per RECIST v1.1 without allograft loss at 16 weeks (W) on NIVO. Adult KTR with advanced melanoma, basal, cutaneous squamous, or Merkel cell carcinoma (MEL, BCC, CSCC, MCC), for whom non-immune therapies were insufficient were eligible. Immunosuppression was standardized to low-dose TACRO (goal trough 2-5 ng/mL) + PRED 5mg daily; pts then received NIVO 480mg IV q4W. Pts with progressive disease (PD) could receive NIVO 3mg/kg + IPI 1mg/kg IV q3W x 4 followed by NIVO 480mg IV q4W. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) levels were measured q2W as a potential predictor of allograft rejection. Results: From 11/2019 - 4/2021, of 12 pts enrolled, 8 pts with CSCC, MCC or MEL were evaluable for response (Table). All pts experienced PD on NIVO; treatment-related allograft loss (TRAL) occurred in 1 pt. 6 pts then received IPI + NIVO. Responses: 2 (33%) with marked tumor regression at 6W and eventual complete response (CR; 1 with TRAL), and 4 (67%) with PD (1 with TRAL). 7/8 pre-NIVO tumor biopsies contained a paucity of infiltrating immune cells. Only 2/5 on-NIVO biopsies demonstrated moderate immune infiltrates; both of these pts later developed a CR to IPI + NIVO. Rejecting allografts contained dense immune responses (plasma cells, CD4+ & CD8+ lymphocytes, PD-1+ lymphocytes, macrophages, PD-L1+ glomerular endothelium, and focal PD-1 & PD-L1 positivity in renal tubules). In 2/3 pts with TRAL, elevations in dd-cfDNA levels occurred 10 and 15 days earlier than increases in weekly serum creatinine levels. TRAL #3 occurred after discontinuation of study therapy (including TACRO) and dd-cfDNA monitoring. Conclusions: In KTR receiving low-dose TACRO + PRED, NIVO augments tumor immune cell infiltration in some pts but is insufficient to mediate tumor regression. Adding IPI can enhance anti-tumor immunity and mediate tumor regression. TACRO + PRED was insufficient to prevent allograft rejection after PD-1 +/- CTLA-4 blockade in 2/8 pts. In pts with TRAL, increased dd-cfDNA levels preceded increased serum creatinine. Based on these findings, we are modifying the trial therapy regimen to augment anti-tumor immunity and preserve allograft function. Clinical trial information: NCT03816332.

CD8+ Immunohistochemistry (0-3= none, mild, moderate & severe; *no specimen available)
NIVO
IPI+NIVO
Pt IDDiagnosisPre-NIVOOn-NIVOOn-IPI/NIVO
Tumor responseAllograft lossTumor responseAllograft loss
1MCC11*PDNPDN
2CSCC123PDNCRN
3MCC100PDNPDY
4CSCC1**PDNPDN
5CSCC1*N/APDNN/AN/A
6CSCC32*PDNCRY
7MEL11*PDYPDN
8CSCC1*N/APDNN/AN/A

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Melanoma/Skin Cancers

Track

Melanoma/Skin Cancers

Sub Track

Advanced/Metastatic Disease

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03816332

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 16; abstr 9507)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.9507

Abstract #

9507

Abstract Disclosures