KEYNOTE-859 study of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for advanced HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer: Outcomes in the protocol-specified PD-L1–selected populations.

Authors

Sun Young Rha

Sun Young Rha

Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South)

Sun Young Rha , Lucjan Wyrwicz , Patricio Eduardo Yanez Weber , Yuxian Bai , Min-Hee Ryu , Jeeyun Lee , Fernando Rivera , Gustavo Vasconcelos Alves , Marcelo Garrido , Kai-Keen Shiu , Manuel González Fernández , Jin Li , Maeve Aine Lowery , Timucin Cil , Felipe Melo Cruz , Shukui Qin , Lina Yin , Sonal Bordia , Pooja Bhagia , Do-Youn Oh

Organizations

Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South), Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland, Universidad de La Frontera, James Lind Cancer Research Center, Temuco, Chile, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South), Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, University College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, IMAT-Oncomedica, Monteria, Colombia, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Trinity St. James Cancer Institute, Dublin, Ireland, Health and Science University, Adana City Hospital, Adana, Turkey, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Ensino da Rede São Camilo, São Paulo, Brazil, Cancer Center of People’s Liberation Army, Nanjing, China, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South)

Research Funding

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA

Background: In the ITT population of the KEYNOTE-859 study of HER2-negative, advanced G/GEJ cancer (NCT03675737), pembrolizumab (pembro) + chemotherapy (chemo) significantly improved OS (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.70-0.87; P< 0.0001), PFS (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67-0.85; P< 0.0001), and ORR (51.3% vs 42.0%; P = 0.00009) vs placebo + chemo at the protocol-specified interim analysis. The safety profile of pembro + chemo was as expected. We present efficacy outcomes of the protocol-specified PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 and CPS ≥10 populations. Methods: Eligible pts aged ≥18 y with HER2-negative, previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, ECOG PS 0-1, and known PD-L1 CPS were randomized 1:1 to pembro 200 mg or placebo IV Q3W for ≤35 cycles, both given with investigator’s choice of 5-FU + cisplatin (FP) or capecitabine + oxaliplatin (CAPOX). Randomization was stratified by region (Europe/Israel/North America/Australia vs Asia vs rest of world), PD-L1 CPS (<1 vs ≥1), and chemo (FP vs CAPOX). Per protocol, the primary endpoint of OS and the secondary endpoints of PFS and ORR per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review were tested in the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and ≥10 populations. Data are from the interim analysis (median study follow-up, 31.0 mo). Results: At baseline, 618 (78.2%) of 790 pts randomized to pembro + chemo and 617 (78.2%) of 789 pts randomized to placebo + chemo had PD-L1 CPS ≥1; 279 (35.3%) and 272 (34.5%), respectively, had CPS ≥10. Baseline characteristics were generally consistent between treatment arms and populations. In the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 population, median OS was 13.0 mo (95% CI 11.6-14.2) for pembro + chemo vs 11.4 mo (95% CI 10.5-12.0) for placebo + chemo (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.65-0.84; P< 0.0001), median PFS was 6.9 mo (95% CI 6.0-7.2) vs 5.6 mo (95% CI 5.4-5.7) (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.82; P< 0.0001), ORR was 52.1% vs 42.6% (P = 0.00041), and median DOR was 8.3 mo (range 1.2+ to 41.5+) vs 5.6 mo (1.3+ to 34.2+). In the PD-L1 CPS ≥10 population, median OS was 15.7 mo (95% CI 13.8-19.3) with pembro + chemo vs 11.8 mo (95% CI 10.3-12.7) with placebo + chemo (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.79; P< 0.0001), median PFS was 8.1 mo (95% CI 6.8-8.5) vs 5.6 mo (95% CI 5.4-6.7) (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51-0.76; P< 0.0001), ORR was 60.6% vs 43.0% (P = 0.00002), and median DOR was 10.9 mo (range 1.2+ to 41.5+) vs 5.8 mo (1.4+ to 31.2+). Among all treated pts in the pembro + chemo (n = 785) and placebo + chemo (n = 787) arms, immune-mediated AE incidence was 27.1% vs 9.3%. Conclusions: The addition of pembro to FP or CAPOX significantly improved OS, PFS, and ORR in the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and ≥10 populations. Together with the efficacy and safety results from the ITT population, these data support pembro + chemo as a new first-line treatment option for pts with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-negative G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, regardless of PD-L1 expression. Clinical trial information: NCT03675737.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Discussion Session

Session Title

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Track

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Sub Track

Esophageal or Gastric Cancer - Advanced/Metastatic Disease

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03675737

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 4014)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.4014

Abstract #

4014

Poster Bd #

334

Abstract Disclosures