A randomized phase 2 study of combination atezolizumab and varlilumab (CDX-1127) with or without addition of cobimetinib in previously treated unresectable biliary tract cancer.

Authors

Thatcher Heumann

Thatcher Ross Heumann

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN

Thatcher Ross Heumann , Mark Yarchoan , Judy Murray , Jiayun Lu , Daneng Li , Paul Raymond Kunk , Renuka V. Iyer , Farshid Dayyani , Lionel Aurelien Kankeu Fonkoua , Aparna Kalyan , Olumide B. Gbolahan , Milind M. Javle , S. Lindsey Davis , Vaia Florou , John J. Wright , Elad Sharon , Hao Wang , Gregory B. Lesinski , Nilofer Saba Azad

Organizations

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, Johns Hopkins University Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, City of Hope National Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, CA, Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, Investigational Drug Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, Investigational Drug Branch, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD

Research Funding

NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program
Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, Celldex, Genentech

Background: Combined MEK inhibition (MEKi) and PD-L1 blockade significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus PD-L1 monotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) following first-line chemotherapy (NCT03201458). Further study has shown MEKi enhances tumor immunogenicity but impairs host T cell activation/priming. The addition of immune agonists, e.g. a CD27 agonist, can rescue T cell function in the setting of systemic MEKi in vivo and may be an effective strategy to optimize MEKi’s immunomodulatory potential when used in combination with checkpoint blockade. Methods: We conducted a randomized ph 2 trial (NCT04941287) evaluating Atezolizumab in combination with the CD27 immune agonist (CDX-1127 [Varlilumab]) with or without the addition of a MEKi (Cobimetinib) in patients with unresectable, previously treated, BTC. Adults with pathologically-confirmed BTC, s/p at least 1 prior line (no more than 2) of systemic therapy, measurable disease, and ECOG PS ≤1 were enrolled. Patients who had received previous PD-[L]1 were eligible. The study was planned for 64 evaluable subjects randomized in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by BTC site, to either AV (Atezolizumab [840mg IV days 1,15])+ Varlilumab [3mg/kg IV days 1, 15]) or CAV (Cobimetinib [60mg oral daily days 1-21, off 22-28] + Atezolizumab + Varlilumab). Overall response rate (ORR) and PFS were co-primary endpoints. The primary correlative outcome was treatment-related changes in CD8+ infiltrating T cells. Results: A preplanned interim analysis based on objective response rates did not meet the threshold for continuance in either treatment arm, so the trial was closed early for futility. In total, 57 patients were enrolled (n = 29 [CAV], n = 28 [AV], 67% had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and 33% had received previous PD-[L]1. Both CAV and AV regimens were well-tolerated without new safety signals. Adding CDX-1127 did not appear to meaningful increase immunotoxicity beyond established PD-L1 toxicity profiles. ORR was 0% (CAV) and 4% (AV). With a median follow up time of 6.2 months, median PFS was 2.2 (CAV) and 1.8 (AV) months (HR 0.71 [0.40,1.25]). In PD[L]1-experienced patients, median PFS was 3.6 (CAV) and 1.7 (AV) months (HR 0.44 [0.14,1.33]). Median OS was 10.2 (CAV) and 6.1 (AV) months (HR 0.76 [0.37,1.55]). In PD[L]1-experienced patients, median OS was 6.4 (CAV) and 4.4 (AV) months for CAV and AV (HR 0.68 [0.19,2.42]). Primary correlative endpoint and updated survival will be reported at time of meeting. Conclusions: The combination of Atezolizumab and Varlilumab with or without Cobimetinib was safe but did not improve clinical outcomes in advanced stage BTC patients treated in later lines. Though not statistically significant, treatment with CAV demonstrated numerically favorable PFS/OS compared AV among immunotherapy-experienced patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03201458.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Rapid Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Track

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary

Sub Track

Hepatobiliary Cancer - Advanced/Metastatic Disease

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03201458

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 16; abstr 4017)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.4017

Abstract #

4017

Abstract Disclosures

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