Breaking boundaries: Exploring extended pembrolizumab in first-line treatment of renal cell carcinoma with axitinib-pembrolizumab combination.

Authors

null

Can Aydogdu

Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

Can Aydogdu , Pia Paffenholz , Ramona Stelmach , Katrin Schlack , Florian Roghmann , Analena Handke , Subhajit Mandal , Marco Schnabel , Axel Merseburger , Philipp Ivanyi , Stefanie Zschaebitz , Christopher Darr , Viktor Grünwald , Christian G. Stief , Jozefina Casuscelli

Organizations

Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany, Department of Urology, Uro-Oncology, Robot Assisted and Reconstructive Urologic Surgery, University of Cologne Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany, Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany, Department of Urology and pediatric Urology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany, Department of Urology, University Hospital Bochum, Herne, Germany, Department of Urology, Ruhr University Bochum, Marienhospital Herne, Herne, Germany, Department of Urology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany, Department of Urology, Caritas St. Josef Medical Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, Department of Urology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany, Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Claudia-von Schelling Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany, Department of Urology, University of Duisburg-Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)-University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Clinic for Internal Medicine (Tumor Research) and Department of Urology, University of Duisburg-Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)-University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

Research Funding

No funding sources reported

Background: The standard first-line treatment for metastatic renal cancer (mRCC) combines immune checkpoint- (ICI) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). While TKI therapy continues until disease progression, ICI treatment is typically stopped after 24 months or 35 cycles, aligning with approval study criteria. However, in real-world practice, the decision to discontinue ICI therapy upon achieving a positive response can be distressing for both patients and healthcare providers; thus ICIs are not stopped. We conducted an initial analysis of prolonged pembrolizumab (Pem) use in axitinib-pembrolizumab (Axi-Pem) combination therapy to evaluate its effects and toxicity. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from mRCC patients treated with first-line Axi-Pem in 10 German tertiary care centers between 2019 and 2023. After completing 35 cycles or 24 months of Pem, patients were offered continued ICI therapy if positive response was assessed. We calculated objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) from the treatment start to achievement of 36 therapy months. Adverse events (irAEs) were reported following CTCAE 5.0 criteria. Results: Out of 72 patients, 27 met strict eligibility criteria from the Keynote-426 study (NCT02853331), with a response at 24 months and continuous Pem therapy. Patients had a median age of 65.7 years (range: 34-84), and IMDC risk was favorable/intermediate/poor in 22.2%/55.5%/18.5%. Median follow-up was 33.2 months (range: 25.3-48.4). At the 36-mos landmark, median PFS was not reached (PFS 64.7%), ORR was 63.6%, with complete response, partial response, and stable disease observed in 9.1%(1)/54.5%(6)/9.1%(1) of cases, respectively. Permanent Pem discontinuation occurred due to progressive disease in two cases and complete response in one case. Another case led to Pem discontinuation due to immune-related toxicity. Conclusions: In our selected real-world patient cohort seeking prolonged ICI therapy, responders who received continuous Pem beyond 24 months achieve sustained efficacy in first-line treatment. Furthermore, the incidence of irAEs does not increase with prolonged exposure to ICI therapy. Additional results beyond the 36-month landmark are urgently needed to further support the clinical necessity and feasibility of ongoing ICI treatment in light of its impact on the overall financial burden of cancer care.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session C: Renal Cell Cancer; Adrenal, Penile, and Testicular Cancers

Track

Renal Cell Cancer,Adrenal Cancer,Penile Cancer,Testicular Cancer

Sub Track

Therapeutics

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 4; abstr 436)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.4_suppl.436

Abstract #

436

Poster Bd #

H18

Abstract Disclosures