Aims:
Nivolumab, a fully human anti-programmed death-1 antibody, demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and a favorable safety profile versus docetaxel in previously treated advanced squamous NSCLC in a phase 3 trial (CheckMate 017). Here, we present findings from a single-arm phase 2 study of nivolumab in patients with previously treated advanced squamous NSCLC (CheckMate 171; NCT02409368).
Methods:
Patients aged ≥18 years from 13 European countries, with advanced squamous NSCLC, progressive disease after ≥1 systemic treatment, and ECOG performance status (PS) 0–2 were eligible to receive nivolumab. The primary objective was safety evaluation; OS was a secondary objective.
Results:
Of 809 patients enrolled, 79% were male and 93% were current/former smokers. Most patients had received 1 (42%) or 2 (40%) prior lines of therapy. Median (range) duration of nivolumab therapy was 4.4 (0-14.7+) months. At database lock, 324 (40%) patients were continuing treatment. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 403 (50%) patients, including grade 3–4 TRAEs in 95 (12%) patients, most frequently asthenia (n=12, 2%) and fatigue (n=10, 1%). Five (1%) patients had treatment-related grade ≥3 pneumonitis. Forty-five (6%) patients discontinued due to TRAEs, most commonly pneumonitis (n=7), asthenia (n=5), and fatigue (n=5); 3 deaths were considered treatment-related. Median OS was 9.9 months (95% CI: 8.7, 13.1). Of 279 patients aged ≥70 years, 155 (56%) had TRAEs and 16 (6%) discontinued due to TRAEs. Of 98 patients with ECOG PS=2, 45 (46%) had TRAEs and 5 (5%) discontinued due to TRAEs. Additional data including outcomes in these two subgroups will be presented.
Conclusions:
The safety of nivolumab in this study was consistent with prior studies of nivolumab in previously treated squamous NSCLC, with no new safety signals. Tolerability in patients aged ≥70 years or with ECOG PS=2 was comparable to the overall population.