Comparative efficacy of pembrolizumab with carboplatin and paclitaxel as first-line (1L) therapy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC): A network meta-analysis (NMA) with matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC).

Authors

null

Dandan Zheng

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

Dandan Zheng , Ali Mojebi , Christopher M. Black , Hilde Giezek , Niroshini Naicker , Chiara Vanetta , Sam Keeping , Sanjay Merchant , Marcin Radoslaw Dzienis

Organizations

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, PRECISIONheor, Vancouver, BC, Canada, MSD, Brussels, Belgium, MSD (UK) Limited, London, United Kingdom, MSD, Zurich, Switzerland, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia

Research Funding

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

Background: The single-arm, phase IV, KEYNOTE-B10 (KNB10) trial demonstrated the antitumor effect of the KNB10 regimen for 1L treatment of R/M HNSCC. It is critical to understand the comparative efficacy of the KNB10 regimen versus other recommended interventions in 1L R/M HNSCC, using advanced evidence synthesis methodologies, to inform clinical decision making. Methods: A systematic literature review, conducted on October 31, 2023, identified 25 randomized controlled trials evaluating 1L interventions in R/M HNSCC, of which six evaluated recommended interventions and formed a connected network. Of these, KEYNOTE-048 was determined to be the most similar study to the disconnected, single-arm, KEYNOTE-B10 trial. Therefore, individual patient-level data from KEYNOTE-B10 final analysis were reweighted and matched to KEYNOTE-048 via a MAIC in terms of metastatic disease, PD-L1 Combined Positive Score, ECOG performance status, primary tumor location as well as HPV status, sex, race, age, and smoking status. KEYNOTE-B10 was then considered an additional treatment arm of KEYNOTE-048 and was incorporated in the network. Fixed-effect NMA models in Bayesian framework were then used to estimate odds ratios of objective response rate (ORR), with 95% credible intervals, for comparisons between KNB10 and other interventions recommended for 1L R/M HNSCC. Results: Results from the fixed-effects NMA are summarized in the table. For ORR, the KNB10 regimen was more efficacious compared to pembrolizumab+platinum+5-FU, cetuximab+platinum+5-FU, platinum+5-FU, cisplatin+paclitaxel, cisplatin, 5-FU, and methotrexate (p< 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in ORR between the KNB10 regimen and cetuximab+cisplatin+docetaxel. Conclusions: This NMA with MAIC suggests patients treated with the KNB10 regimen had improved or comparable ORR outcomes versus other recommended 1L interventions for R/M HNSCC, which further reinforces the combination therapy of pembrolizumab+platinum+taxane as an acceptable alternative 1L treatment option for R/M HNSCC. Future analyses should additionally compare survival outcomes between the KNB10 regimen and other recognized interventions in this patient population.

Comparative ORR results for the KNB10 regimen vs. other interventions from fixed-effects NMA with MAIC.

Comparator RegimenPembrolizumab + carboplatin + paclitaxel
ORR odds ratio (95% credible interval)
Pembrolizumab + platinum + 5-FU1.69 (1.04, 2.74)
Cetuximab + platinum + 5-FU1.64 (1.01, 2.66)
Platinum + 5-FU3.69 (1.94, 7.05)
Cisplatin + paclitaxel4.45 (1.84, 10.85)
Cetuximab + cisplatin + docetaxel1.6 (0.88, 2.89)
Cisplatin8.39 (3.13, 22.64)
5-FU11.12 (4.01, 30.91)
Methotrexate11.76 (4.33, 32.06)

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Head and Neck Cancer

Track

Head and Neck Cancer

Sub Track

Advanced/Metastatic Disease

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 16; abstr e18006)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e18006

Abstract #

e18006

Abstract Disclosures