Cemiplimab in locally advanced basal cell carcinoma after hedgehog inhibitor therapy: an open-label, multi-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Summary Background Before February, 2021, there was no standard treatment regimen for locally advanced basal cell carcinoma after first-line hedgehog inhibitor (HHI) therapy. Cemiplimab, a PD-1 antibody, is approved for treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and has shown clinical activity as monotherapy in first-line non-small-cell lung cancer. Here, we present the primary analysis data of cemiplimab in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma after HHI therapy. Methods We did an open-label, multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial across 38 outpatient clinics, primarily at academic medical centres, in Canada, Europe, and the USA. Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years…

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells inhibit natural killer cell functions in a transforming growth factor-beta-dependent manner.

Tumor growth promotes the expansion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T reg) cells that counteract T cell–mediated immune responses. An inverse correlation between natural killer (NK) cell activation and T reg cell expansion in tumor-bearing patients, shown here, prompted us to address the role of T reg cells in controlling innate antitumor immunity. Our experiments indicate that human T reg cells expressed membrane-bound transforming growth factor (TGF)–β, which directly inhibited NK cell effector functions and down-regulated NKG2D receptors on the NK cell surface. Adoptive transfer of wild-type T reg cells but not TGF-β−/− T reg cells into nude mice suppressed NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity, redu…

A randomized, controlled phase III trial of nab-Paclitaxel versus dacarbazine in chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic melanoma.

The efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel versus dacarbazine in patients with metastatic melanoma was evaluated in a phase III randomized, controlled trial.Chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage IV melanoma received nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks or dacarbazine 1000 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) by independent radiologic review; the secondary end point was overall survival (OS).A total of 529 patients were randomized to nab-paclitaxel (n = 264) or dacarbazine (n = 265). Baseline characteristics were well balanced. The majority of patients were men (66%), had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status of 0 (7…

Update on tolerability and overall survival in COLUMBUS: landmark analysis of a randomised phase 3 trial of encorafenib plus binimetinib vs vemurafenib or encorafenib in patients with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma.

Abstract Background BRAF/MEK inhibitor combinations are established treatments for BRAF V600–mutant melanoma based on demonstrated benefits on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Here, we report an updated analysis of the COLUMBUS (COmbined LGX818 [encorafenib] Used with MEK162 [binimetinib] in BRAF mutant Unresectable Skin cancer) trial with long-term follow-up. Methods In part 1 of the COLUMBUS trial, 577 patients with advanced/metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma, untreated or progressed after first-line immunotherapy, were randomised 1:1:1 to 450 mg of encorafenib QD + 45 mg of binimetinib BID (COMBO450) vs 960 mg of vemurafenib BID (VEM) or 300 mg of encorafenib …

Primary Analysis of Phase 2 Results for Cemiplimab in Patients (pts) with Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma (laBCC) who Progress on or are Intolerant to Hedgehog Inhibitors (HHIs)

Abstract not available.

Five-year overall survival (OS) in COLUMBUS: A randomized phase 3 trial of encorafenib plus binimetinib versus vemurafenib or encorafenib in patients (pts) with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma.

9507 Background: Combined BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy has demonstrated benefits on progression-free survival (PFS) and OS and is standard of care for the treatment of advanced BRAF V600-mutant melanoma. Here we report a 5-year update from the COLUMBUS trial. Methods: In Part 1 of COLUMBUS, 577 pts with advanced/metastatic BRAF V600-mutant melanoma, untreated or progressed after first-line immunotherapy, were randomized 1:1:1 to encorafenib 450 mg QD + binimetinib 45 mg BID (COMBO450), encorafenib 300 mg QD (ENCO300), or vemurafenib 960 mg BID (VEM). An updated analysis including PFS, OS, objective response rate (ORR; by blinded independent central review), and safety was conducted after min…

A phase III trial of nab-paclitaxel versus dacarbazine in chemotherapy-naive patients (pts) with metastatic melanoma: Analysis of peripheral neuropathy.

e20025 Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common side effect associated with taxane treatment. In a phase III trial, nab-paclitaxel vs dacarbazine demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (4.8 vs 2.5 months; P = 0.044) and at the interim survival analysis, a trend toward prolonged overall survival (12.8 vs 10.7 months; P = 0.094) for the treatment of chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic melanoma. Here we report on the PN profile of nab-paclitaxel in this phase III trial. Methods: Pts (median age, 63 years) with chemotherapy-naive stage IV melanoma (M1c stage, 65%; elevated LDH, 28%) and an ECOG performance status 0-1 were randomized to nab-paclita…

Overall survival at 5 years of follow-up in a phase III trial comparing ipilimumab 10 mg/kg with 3 mg/kg in patients with advanced melanoma

BackgroundWe have previously reported significantly longer overall survival (OS) with ipilimumab 10 mg/kg versus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg in patients with advanced melanoma, with higher incidences of adverse events (AEs) at 10 mg/kg. This follow-up analysis reports a 5-year update of OS and safety.MethodsThis randomized, multicenter, double-blind, phase III trial included patients with untreated or previously treated unresectable stage III or IV melanoma. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to ipilimumab 10 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses. The primary end point was OS.ResultsAt a minimum follow-up of 61 months, median OS was 15.7 months (95% CI 11.6 to 17.8) at 10 mg/kg and 11.5 mont…

Pimasertib Versus Dacarbazine in Patients With Unresectable NRAS-Mutated Cutaneous Melanoma: Phase II, Randomized, Controlled Trial with Crossover

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of pimasertib (MEK1/MEK2 inhibitor) versus dacarbazine (DTIC) in patients with untreated NRAS-mutated melanoma. Phase II, multicenter, open-label trial. Patients with unresectable, stage IIIc/IVM1 NRAS-mutated cutaneous melanoma were randomized 2:1 to pimasertib (60 mg

A phase III trial of nab-paclitaxel versus dacarbazine in chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic melanoma: A subanalysis based on BRAF status.

9030 Background: Activating mutations of BRAF V600 can be found in 40%-50% of melanomas and are related to poor prognosis. In a phase 3 trial for the treatment of metastatic melanoma (MM) in chemotherapy-naive patients, nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) vs dacarbazine (DTIC) demonstrated a significant improvement in the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), assessed by independent radiological review (IRR), and a trend toward prolonged overall survival (OS) at the interim survival analysis. The study also explored the effect of BRAF status on the efficacy parameters. Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IV melanoma (M1c stage 65%; elevated LDH 28%) and ECOG performance statu…

1127P Correlation of BRAF mutation status in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) with tumour biopsy and clinical outcomes in COLUMBUS

A SUMOylation-defective MITF germline mutation predisposes to melanoma and renal carcinoma

International audience; So far, no common environmental and/or phenotypic factor has been associated with melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The known risk factors for melanoma include sun exposure, pigmentation and nevus phenotypes; risk factors associated with RCC include smoking, obesity and hypertension. A recent study of coexisting melanoma and RCC in the same patients supports a genetic predisposition underlying the association between these two cancers. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) has been proposed to act as a melanoma oncogene; it also stimulates the transcription of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF1A), the pathway of which is targeted by kidney canc…

Encorafenib plus binimetinib versus vemurafenib or encorafenib in patients with BRAF -mutant melanoma (COLUMBUS): a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial

Summary Background Combined BRAF-MEK inhibitor therapy is the standard of care for BRAF V600 -mutant advanced melanoma. We investigated encorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor with unique target-binding properties, alone or in combination with the MEK inhibitor binimetinib, versus vemurafenib in patients with advanced BRAF V600 -mutant melanoma. Methods COLUMBUS was conducted as a two-part, randomised, open-label phase 3 study at 162 hospitals in 28 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and had histologically confirmed locally advanced (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV), unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma, or unknown primary melanoma; a B…

Overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma receiving encorafenib plus binimetinib versus vemurafenib or encorafenib (COLUMBUS): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

Summary Background Encorafenib plus binimetinib and encorafenib alone improved progression-free survival compared with vemurafenib in patients with BRAF V600 -mutant melanoma in the COLUMBUS trial. Here, we report the results of the secondary endpoint of overall survival. Methods COLUMBUS was a two-part, randomised, open-label, phase 3 study done at 162 hospitals in 28 countries. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years with histologically confirmed, locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic cutaneous melanoma, or unknown primary melanoma, BRAF V600E or BRAF V600K mutation, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, and were treatment naive or had pr…

Adverse events associated with encorafenib plus binimetinib in the COLUMBUS study: incidence, course and management.

Abstract Background Dual inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway with BRAF/MEK inhibitor (BRAFi/MEKi) therapy is a standard treatment for BRAFV600-mutant metastatic melanoma and has historically been associated with grade III pyrexia or photosensitivity depending on the combination used. The objective of this study was to fully describe adverse events from the COLUMBUS study evaluating the most recent BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination encorafenib+binimetinib. Patients and methods Patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic BRAFV600-mutant melanoma were randomised to receive encorafenib 450 mg once daily plus binimetinib 45 mg twice daily, encorafenib 300 mg on…

Melanoma Clinics and Treatment