Immunotherapy is Beneficial in Gastric and Oesophageal Cancers, Studies Show [ESMO2020 Press Release]

K. Kato¹, J-M. Sun², M.A. Shah³, P.C. Enzinger⁴, A. Adenis⁵, T. Doi⁶, T. Kojima⁷, J-P. Metges⁸, Z. Li⁹, S-B. Kim¹⁰, B.C. Chul Cho¹¹, W. Mansoor¹², S-H. Li¹³, P. Sunpaweravong¹⁴, M.A. Maqueda¹⁵, E. Goekkurt¹⁶, Q. Liu¹⁷, S. Shah¹⁷, P. Bhagia¹⁷, L. Shen^18
1Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, ²Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, ³Medical Oncology/Solid Tumor Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA, ⁴Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA, ⁵Medical Oncology, IRCM, Inserm, Université Montpellier, ICM, Montpellier, CEDEX, France, ⁶Experimental Therapeutics, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Chiba, Japan, ⁷Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, ⁸Cancer Institute, CHU Brest – Institut de Cancerologie et d’Hematologie, Brest, Cedex 2, France, ⁹Thoracic & Esophageal Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Esophageal Disease Center,, Shanghai, China, ¹⁰Oncology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, ¹¹Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, ¹²Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK, ¹³Oncology and Hematology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ¹⁴Medicine, Prince of Songkla University Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand, ¹⁵Medical Oncology, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain, ¹⁶Hematology-Oncology, Hematology Oncology Practice Eppendorf, and University Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, ¹⁷Medical Oncology, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, ¹⁸Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China

Background: KEYNOTE-590 (NCT03189719) is a randomized, international, double-blind study of 1L pembrolizumab (pembro) + chemotherapy (chemo) vs chemo alone in patients (pts) with locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or Siewert type 1 esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJ).

Methods: Eligible pts were randomized 1:1 to pembro 200 mg or placebo Q3W for up to 2 yr + chemo (cisplatin 80 mg/m² Q3W [d1; 6 doses] + 5-FU 800 mg/m² on d1-5 Q3W). Randomization was stratified by Asia vs Rest of World, adenocarcinoma vs ESCC, and ECOG PS 0 vs 1. Treatment continued until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal, or 2 yr. No crossover was permitted. Primary end points were OS in pts with ESCC PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥10 tumors, and OS and PFS (RECIST v1.1 ; by investigator) in ESCC, PD-L1 CPS ≥10, and all pts. The secondary end point was ORR (RECIST v1.1; by investigator) in all pts. Data cutoff for interim OS/final PFS analysis was July 2, 2020.

Results: At data cutoff, 749 pts (83% male, 73% ESCC) were randomized (373 pembro + chemo; 376 chemo). Median follow-up was 10.8 mo. Pembro + chemo vs chemo was superior for OS in pts with ESCC CPS ≥10 (median 13.9 vs 8.8 mo; HR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.43-0.75; P < 0.0001), ESCC (median 12.6 vs 9.8 mo; HR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.88; P = 0.0006), CPS ≥10 (median 13.5 vs 9.4 mo; HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.49-0.78; P < 0.0001), and all pts (median 12.4 vs 9.8 mo; HR, 0.73, 95% CI, 0.62-0.86; P < 0.0001). PFS was superior with pembro + chemo vs chemo in ESCC (median 6.3 vs 5.8 mo; HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.78; P < 0.0001), CPS ≥10 (median 7.5 vs 5.5 mo; HR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.41-0.65; P < 0.0001), and all pts (median 6.3 vs 5.8 mo; HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.55-0.76; P < 0.0001). Confirmed ORR was 45.0% vs 29.3% (P < 0.0001) in all pts, with median DOR of 8.3 vs 6.0 mo. Grade 3-5 drug-related AE rates were 72% vs 68%. Discontinuation rates from drug-related AEs were 19% vs 12%.

Conclusions: Pembro + chemo provided superior OS, PFS, and ORR vs chemo, with a manageable safety profile in pts with untreated, advanced esophageal and EGJ cancer. These data demonstrate that 1L pembro + chemo is a new standard of care in this pt population.

Clinical trial identification: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03189719
Editorial acknowledgement: Luana Atherly-Henderson of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
Legal entity responsible for the study: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
Funding: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA

Disclosure: K. Kato: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): BMS; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): ONO; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Beigene; Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Taiho; Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Research grant/Funding (institution): Shionogi; Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck Bio; Research grant/Funding (institution): Chugai. J-M. Sun: Research grant/Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant/Funding (institution): Ono; Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD. M.A. Shah: Advisory/Consultancy: Daiichi; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Research grant/Funding (institution): Boston Biomedical; Research grant/Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant/Funding (institution): Oncolys. P.C. Enzinger: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Astellas; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Celgene; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Daiichi-Sankyo; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Five-Prime; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Loxo; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Taiho; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Takeda; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Zymeworks. A. Adenis: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Bayer; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Bristol Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): Sanofi; Advisory/Consultancy: Servier; Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Research grant/Funding (institution): Pfizer. T. Doi: Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): Bristol Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self): Ono Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Abbvie; Honoraria (self): Astellas Pharma; Honoraria (self): Oncolys BioPharma; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self): Otsuka; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory/Consultancy: Amgen; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Sumitomo Dainippon; Advisory/Consultancy: Takeda; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory/Consultancy: Bayer; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory/Consultancy: Rakuten Medical; Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck Serono; Research grant/Funding (institution): Pfizer; Research grant/Funding (institution): Lilly; Research grant/Funding (institution): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Research grant/Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant/Funding (institution): IQVIA.
T. Kojima: Honoraria (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): Ono Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self): Oncolys BioPharma; Advisory/Consultancy: Astellas Pharma; Advisory/Consultancy: Bristol Myers Squibb; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Ono Pharmaceutical; Advisory/Consultancy: Merck; Research grant/Funding (institution): Astellas Amgen BioPharma; Research grant/Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical; Research grant/Funding (institution): Shionogi. J-P. Metges: Honoraria (self): MSD; Honoraria (self): Bayer; Honoraria (self): Bristol Myers Squibb.
S-B. Kim: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self): Novartis; Research grant/Funding (self): Sanofi-Aventis; Research grant/Funding (self): DongKook Pharma Co.; Advisory/Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory/Consultancy: Lilly; Advisory/Consultancy: Enzychem; Advisory/Consultancy: Dae Hwa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd; Advisory/Consultancy: ISU Abxis; Advisory/Consultancy: Daiichi-Sankyo. B.C. Chul Cho: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Advisory/Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory/Consultancy: Roche; Advisory/Consultancy: Bristol Myers Squibb; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Ono; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Yuhan; Advisory/Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Eli Lilly; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Janssen; Advisory/Consultancy: Medpacto; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Blueprint Medicines; Advisory/Consultancy, Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options: KANAPH Therapeutic Inc.; Advisory/Consultancy, Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options: Brigebio Therapeutics; Advisory/Consultancy, Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options: Cyrus Therapeutics; Advisory/Consultancy: Guardant Health; Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options: TheraCanVac Inc; Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options, Officer/Board of Directors: Gencurix Inc; Research grant/Funding (institution), Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options, Officer/Board of Directors: Interpark Bio Convergence Corp; Research grant/Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant/Funding (institution): MOGAM Institute; Research grant/Funding (institution): Dong-A ST; Research grant/Funding (institution), Licensing/Royalties: Champions Oncology; Research grant/Funding (institution): Dizal Pharma; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant/Funding (institution): Abbvie; Research grant/Funding (institution): Medpacto; Research grant/Funding (institution): GIInnovation; Leadership role, founder: DAAN Biotherapeutics; Advisory/Consultancy: Takeda. S-H. Li: Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD.
M.A. Maqueda: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Servier; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Bristol Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Lilly; Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche; Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Amgen. E. Goekkurt: Honoraria (self): MSD; Honoraria (self): Bristol Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self): Servier. Q. Liu: Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options, Full/Part-time employment: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.. S. Shah: Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options, Full/Part-time employment: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.. P. Bhagia: Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options, Full/Part-time employment: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.. L. Shen: Advisory/Consultancy: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Advisory/Consultancy: Harbour; Research grant/Funding (self): Boehringer Ingelheim; Research grant/Funding (self): Beijing Xiantong Biomedical Technology; Research grant/Funding (self): Qilu Pharmaceutical; Research grant/Funding (self): Zaiding Pharmaceutical; Research grant/Funding (self): Jacobio Pharmaceuticals; Research grant/Funding (self): Beihai Kangcheng(Beijing)Medical Technology Co.,Ltd. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.