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G. Azzarello



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    P1.01 - Advanced NSCLC (ID 757)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Poster Session with Presenters Present
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
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      P1.01-065 - Treatment Beyond Progression with Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Non-Squamous NSCLC: Results from the Italian Expanded Access Program (ID 9333)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): G. Azzarello

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Because of the novel mechanism of action of immunotherapies like nivolumab, response patterns may differ from other therapies and may provide a rationale for considering treatment beyond progression. Immunotherapy protocols generally allow patients (pts) to continue treatment beyond investigator-assessed progressive disease (PD) as long as there is ongoing clinical benefit. Here we report the analysis of pts treated beyond PD in the Italian nivolumab EAP for pts with non-squamous non small cell lung cancer (Non-Sq-NSCLC).

      Method:
      Nivolumab was provided upon physicians’ request for pts aged ≥18 years who had relapsed after a minimum of one prior systemic treatment for stage IIIB/stage IV non-Sq-NSCLC. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 2 weeks for <24 months. Pts included in the analysis received ≥1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for adverse events (AEs) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Patients were allowed to continue treatment beyond initial PD as long as they met the following criteria: investigator-assessed clinical benefit, absence of rapid PD, tolerance of program drug, stable performance status and no delay of an imminent intervention to prevent serious complications of PD.

      Result:
      In total, 1588 Italian pts with advanced Non-Sq-NSCLC received at least one dose of nivolumab in the EAP across 168 sites and 1056 (66%) had PD. Of those, 274 pts (26%) were treated beyond progression. Before being treated beyond PD, the disease control rates (DCR) was 28%, with 1 complete response (CR), 27 partial responses (PR) and 49 stable diseases (SD). Post PD, 58 of all pts treated beyond PD achieved a non-conventional benefit, meaning a subsequent tumor reduction or stabilization in tumor lesions. With a median follow-up of 10.3 months (0.1-21.9) and a median of 11 (4-44) doses, median overall survival for pts treated beyond PD was 15.5 months (range: 13.1-17.9). Overall, among pts treated beyond PD, 200 discontinued treatment for any reason, with only 11 (5.5%) pts who discontinued treatment due to adverse events, suggesting no increased safety signals.

      Conclusion:
      As already observed in clinical trials, these preliminary EAP data seem to confirm that a proportion of pts who continued treatment beyond PD demonstrated sustained reductions or stabilization of tumor burden, with an acceptable safety profile. Further investigations are warranted in order to better define and identify pts who can benefit from this treatment strategy.