Safety, Activity, and Immune Correlates of Anti-PD-1 Antibody in Cancer.
Topalian, Suzanne L. M.D.; Hodi, F. Stephen M.D.; Brahmer, Julie R. M.D.; Gettinger, Scott N. M.D.; Smith, David C. M.D.; McDermott, David F. M.D.; Powderly, John D. M.D.; Carvajal, Richard D. M.D.; Sosman, Jeffrey A. M.D.; Atkins, Michael B. M.D.; Leming, Philip D. M.D.; Spigel, David R. M.D.; Antonia, Scott J. M.D., Ph.D.; Horn, Leora M.D.; Drake, Charles G. M.D., Ph.D.; Pardoll, Drew M. M.D., Ph.D.; Chen, Lieping M.D., Ph.D.; Sharfman, William H. M.D.; Anders, Robert A. M.D., Ph.D.; Taube, Janis M. M.D.; McMiller, Tracee L. M.S.; Xu, Haiying B.A.; Korman, Alan J. Ph.D.; Jure-Kunkel, Maria Ph.D.; Agrawal, Shruti Ph.D.; McDonald, Daniel M.B.A.; Kollia, Georgia D. Ph.D.; Gupta, Ashok M.D., Ph.D.; Wigginton, Jon M. M.D.; Sznol, Mario M.D.
[Article]
New England Journal of Medicine.
366(26):2443-2454, June 28, 2012.
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Background: Blockade of programmed death 1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor expressed by T cells, can overcome immune resistance. We assessed the antitumor activity and safety of BMS-936558, an antibody that specifically blocks PD-1.
Methods: We enrolled patients with advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, or renal-cell or colorectal cancer to receive anti-PD-1 antibody at a dose of 0.1 to 10.0 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks. Response was assessed after each 8-week treatment cycle. Patients received up to 12 cycles until disease progression or a complete response occurred.
Results: A total of 296 patients received treatment through February 24, 2012. Grade 3 or 4 drug-related adverse events occurred in 14% of patients; there were three deaths from pulmonary toxicity. No maximum tolerated dose was defined. Adverse events consistent with immune-related causes were observed. Among 236 patients in whom response could be evaluated, objective responses (complete or partial responses) were observed in those with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer. Cumulative response rates (all doses) were 18% among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (14 of 76 patients), 28% among patients with melanoma (26 of 94 patients), and 27% among patients with renal-cell cancer (9 of 33 patients). Responses were durable; 20 of 31 responses lasted 1 year or more in patients with 1 year or more of follow-up. To assess the role of intratumoral PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in the modulation of the PD-1-PD-L1 pathway, immunohistochemical analysis was performed on pretreatment tumor specimens obtained from 42 patients. Of 17 patients with PD-L1-negative tumors, none had an objective response; 9 of 25 patients (36%) with PD-L1-positive tumors had an objective response (P=0.006).
Conclusions: Anti-PD-1 antibody produced objective responses in approximately one in four to one in five patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer; the adverse-event profile does not appear to preclude its use. Preliminary data suggest a relationship between PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and objective response. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00730639.)
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