Nora Sundahl1, Teofila Seremet2, Jo Van Dorpe3, Bart Neyns2, Liesbeth Ferdinande4, Annabel Meireson5, Lieve Brochez6, Vibeke Kruse7, Piet Ost8. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium. Electronic address: nora.sundahl@ugent.be. 2. Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Centre, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. 3. Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium; Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. 4. Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. 5. Department of Dermatology and Dermatology Research Unit, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. 6. Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium; Department of Dermatology and Dermatology Research Unit, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. 7. Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium; Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. 8. Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Nivolumab improves survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Unfortunately, most patients do not respond to this treatment. Preclinical data indicate that radiation therapy could work synergistically with nivolumab and improve response rates. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a phase 2 trial in 20 patients with inoperable or metastatic melanoma with ≥2 measurable lesions (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1). Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of 3 × 8 Gy to the largest lesion was delivered before the second nivolumab cycle. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) in the nonirradiated lesions (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1). Secondary endpoints included toxicity. An exploratory endpoint was mutant BRAF and NRAS circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) on serial blood samples. RESULTS: An ORR of 45% was noted with 3 complete and 6 partial responses. Three patients experienced stable disease and 7 had progressive disease as best response. All patients with a complete response in the nonirradiated lesions exhibited a local complete response in the irradiated lesion. Grade 1 to 2 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 17 patients; 3 patients experienced grade 3 AEs (lymphopenia, gastroenteritis, and bullous pemphigoid). No grade 4 to 5 AEs occurred. ctDNA was detected in 8 patients, and changes corresponded to clinical response and suggested that a subset of patients with a low programmed death ligand-1 score only started responding after SBRT. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the combination treatment was well tolerated and led to an ORR of 45% in patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma, similar to historical response rates of nivolumab monotherapy. Although underpowered, our data therefore do not indicate a substantial abscopal response. Nonetheless, serial ctDNA analyses suggest that a subset of patients responded only after the addition of SBRT.
PURPOSE:Nivolumab improves survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Unfortunately, most patients do not respond to this treatment. Preclinical data indicate that radiation therapy could work synergistically with nivolumab and improve response rates. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a phase 2 trial in 20 patients with inoperable or metastatic melanoma with ≥2 measurable lesions (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1). Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of 3 × 8 Gy to the largest lesion was delivered before the second nivolumab cycle. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) in the nonirradiated lesions (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1). Secondary endpoints included toxicity. An exploratory endpoint was mutant BRAF and NRAS circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) on serial blood samples. RESULTS: An ORR of 45% was noted with 3 complete and 6 partial responses. Three patients experienced stable disease and 7 had progressive disease as best response. All patients with a complete response in the nonirradiated lesions exhibited a local complete response in the irradiated lesion. Grade 1 to 2 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 17 patients; 3 patients experienced grade 3 AEs (lymphopenia, gastroenteritis, and bullous pemphigoid). No grade 4 to 5 AEs occurred. ctDNA was detected in 8 patients, and changes corresponded to clinical response and suggested that a subset of patients with a low programmed death ligand-1 score only started responding after SBRT. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the combination treatment was well tolerated and led to an ORR of 45% in patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma, similar to historical response rates of nivolumab monotherapy. Although underpowered, our data therefore do not indicate a substantial abscopal response. Nonetheless, serial ctDNA analyses suggest that a subset of patients responded only after the addition of SBRT.