Project description:Like other monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be immunogenic in some patients, potentially affecting pharmacokinetics (PKs) and clinical outcomes. In post hoc analyses, we characterized antidrug antibody (ADA) development with avelumab monotherapy in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) from the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial (first-line [1L; N = 116] and second-line or later [≥2L; N = 88] cohorts) or with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 (1L maintenance [N = 350]) and JAVELIN Solid Tumor (≥2L [N = 249]) trials. Treatment-emergent ADAs developed in a numerically higher proportion of patients with aUC (1L maintenance, 19.1%; ≥2L, 18.1%) versus mMCC (1L, 8.2%; ≥2L, 8.9%); incidences within tumor types were similar by line of therapy. In PK analyses, numerically lower avelumab trough concentration and higher baseline clearance were observed in treatment-emergent ADA+ versus ADA- subgroups; however, differences were not clinically relevant. Numerical differences in overall survival, progression-free survival, or objective response rate by ADA status were observed; however, no clinically meaningful trends were identified. Proportions of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; any grade or grade 3/4), serious TEAEs, TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation, or infusion-related reactions were similar, with overlapping 80% confidence intervals between ADA subgroups. Efficacy and safety observations were similar in subgroups defined by early development of ADA+ status during treatment. In conclusion, no meaningful differences in PKs, efficacy, and safety were observed between subgroups of avelumab-treated patients with different ADA status. Overall, these data suggest that ADAs are not relevant for treatment decisions with avelumab.
Project description:BackgroundFirst-line therapy for treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma includes combination platinum-based chemotherapies, though resistance and long-term toxicity concerns to these regimens cause limitations in progression-free survival and overall survival. Maintenance treatment with an alternative agent such as the PD-L1 inhibitor, avelumab (Bavencio®), after initial chemotherapy has been shown to prolong overall survival. The aim of this review is to provide a landscape clinical use of avelumab in the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma with a focus on patient selection and outcomes.MethodsThis review includes the most up to date phases and results from clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals.ResultsThree studies were included, one phase 1B trial, one phase 1B trial with 2 year follow-up, and one phase 3 trial. Patients receiving avelumab maintenance therapy at 10 mg/kg IV every two weeks had an overall better performance status, though those with an increased ECOG-PS, increased Bellmunt risk score, or failure of ≥3 chemotherapies had poorer responses. Patients over the age of 65 had a higher ORR (18-25%) compared to younger patients (13-14%). Patients with PD-L1 positive tumors had a significantly increased CR median ORR (13.8%), median PFS (5.7 months), and median 12-month OS rate (79.1%) compared to control subjects receiving best supportive care (1.2%, 2.1 months, 60.4%, respectively). TRAEs were seen in 86.7% of patients, with 32.4% of patients experiencing a ≥grade 3 AE. The most common AE was IRR (32.4%, ≥grade 3 1.01%) and irAE 25.6% of any grade, including various rashes and pruritus AEs, immune-related thyroid disorders, and immune related hepatitis. There were 3 reported treatment-related deaths (0.05%). Ongoing phases of one of the trials is investigating the use of docetaxel and avelumab together after failure of one chemotherapy.ConclusionAvelumab as a maintenance therapy after platinum-based chemotherapy failure or in platinum-ineligible patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma is an effective option with increased ORR, PFS, and OS with a similar safety profile to other chemotherapies. Ongoing studies currently in recruitment and active clinical trials will yield valuable insights into optimizing avelumab therapy in conjunction with chemotherapies and/or immunotherapies, better characterization of response for PD-L1 positive tumors, and a clearer insight into clinically validated prognostic factors to improve patient outcomes.
Project description:GC (cisplatin and gemcitabine) and MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin [doxorubicin], and cisplatin) have been the standard systemic chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma. These regimens have shown significant response rates in this patient population. Nevertheless, disease does recur with most patients who unfortunately do succumb to the disease. Research efforts are focused in several different areas of therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Further efforts include those in improving understanding of the molecular biology of urothelial carcinoma which may lead development of biomarkers that may enhance therapeutic index. This paper reviews recent advances in the treatment and ongoing study of molecular biology of urothelial carcinoma.
Project description:The current standard of care for metastatic urothelial carcinoma is cisplatin-based chemotherapy but treatment is generally not curative. Mechanisms of resistance to conventional cytotoxic regimens include tumor cell drug efflux pumps, intracellular anti-oxidants, and enhanced anti-apoptotic signaling. Blockade of signaling pathways with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors has produced dramatic responses in subsets of other cancers. Multiple potential signaling pathway targets are altered in Urothelial carcinoma (UC). Blockade of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway may prove efficacious because 21% have activating PI3K mutations and another 30% have PTEN inactivation (which leads to activation of this pathway). The fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 protein may be overactive in 50-60% and agents which block this pathway are under development. Blockade of multiple other pathways including HER2 and aurora kinase also have potential efficacy. Anti-angiogenic and immunotherapy strategies are also under development in UC and are discussed in this review. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed in UC. We review the various strategies under investigation and discuss how best to evaluate and optimize their efficacy.
Project description:Urothelial carcinoma is the sixth most common malignancy in the US. While most patients present with non-muscle-invasive disease, many will develop recurrent disease including some progressing to muscle invasive metastatic cancer. Treatment outcomes have remained poor and stagnant for those with more advanced illness, with typical 5-year survival rates in the range of ?15%. While first-line, platinum-based chemotherapy remains the current standard for those eligible, the recent incorporation of checkpoint inhibitors into the management of advanced bladder cancer has resulted in an expansion of treatment options for a difficult-to-treat disease. This review will discuss the historic standard treatment options, followed by the more recent evolving role immune therapy has in the management of bladder cancer.
Project description:Until recently, international and Asia-specific guidelines for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) recommended first-line (1L) platinum-based chemotherapy, followed by second-line (2L) anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy where possible, or 1L ICI therapy in cisplatin-ineligible patients with PD-L1+ tumors. However, long-term outcomes remain poor and only a minority of patients receive 2L therapy. The JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial-which assessed avelumab (anti-PD-L1 antibody) as 1L maintenance therapy plus best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced UC that had not progressed with 1L platinum-based chemotherapy-is the only phase 3 trial of ICI-based treatment in the 1L setting to show significantly improved overall survival, and this treatment approach is now recommended in updated treatment guidelines. Available data from the trial suggest that efficacy and safety in patients enrolled in the Asia-Pacific region were similar to findings in the overall population. In this review, we discuss the treatment of advanced UC, with a specific focus on studies in the Asia-Pacific region, and summarize key findings supporting the use of avelumab 1L maintenance as a standard of care in this setting both in cisplatin-eligible and cisplatin-ineligible patients and irrespective of PD-L1 status.
Project description:Avelumab, an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and platinum-treated urothelial carcinoma, was initially approved with a 10 mg/kg weight-based dose. We report pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic analyses for avelumab comparing weight-based dosing and a flat 800 mg dose, developed using data from 1,827 patients enrolled in 3 clinical trials (NCT01772004, NCT01943461, and NCT02155647). PK metrics were simulated for weight-based and flat-dosing regimens and summarized by quartiles of weight. Derived exposure metrics were used in simulations of exposure-safety (various tumors) and exposure-efficacy (objective responses; Merkel cell or urothelial carcinoma). Flat dosing was predicted to provide similar exposure to weight-based dosing, with slightly lower variability. Exposure-safety and exposure-efficacy simulations suggested similar benefit:risk profiles for the two dosing regimens. These pharmacometric analyses provided the basis for the US Food and Drug Administration approval of a flat dose of avelumab 800 mg every 2 weeks in approved indications.
Project description:Urothelial carcinoma (UC) represents a common malignancy of the urinary system that can involve the kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra. Advanced/metastatic UC (mUC) tends to have a poor prognosis. UC ranks third in terms of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression among all tumors. However, multiple studies found that, unlike breast cancer, variable degrees of HER2 positivity and poor consistency between HER2 protein overexpression and gene amplification have been found. Trials involving trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, afatinib, and neratinib have failed to prove their beneficial effect in patients with HER2-positive mUC, and a clinical trial on T-DM1 (trastuzumab emtansine) was terminated prematurely because of the adverse reactions. However, a phase II trial showed that RC48-ADC was effective. In this review, we provided an in-depth overview of the advances in the research regarding HER2-targeted therapy and the role of HER2 in mUC. Furthermore, we also discussed the prospects of potential strategies aimed at overcoming anti-HER2 resistance, and summarize the novel anti-HER2 approaches for the management of mUC used in recent clinical trials.