Phase IA/IB study of single-agent tislelizumab, an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, in solid tumors. Issue 1 (14th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Desai, Jayesh; Deva, Sanjeev; Lee, Jong Seok; Lin, Chia-Chi; Yen, Chia-Jui; Chao, Yee; Keam, Bhumsuk; Jameson, Michael; Hou, Ming-Mo; Kang, Yoon-Koo; Markman, Ben; Lu, Chang-Hsien; Rau, Kun-Ming; Lee, Kyung-Hun; Horvath, Lisa; Friedlander, Michael; Hill, Andrew; Sandhu, Shahneen; Barlow, Paula; Wu, Chi-Yuan; Zhang, Yun; Liang, Liang; Wu, John; Paton, Virginia; Millward, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer. Volume 8:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-14
• Subjects: tumors -- oncology -- programmed cell death 1 receptor -- immunotherapy; Cancer -- Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.99406105
• DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-1426

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis plays a central role in suppressing antitumor immunity; axis dysregulation can be used by cancer cells to evade the immune system. Tislelizumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity for PD-1, was engineered to minimize binding to FcγR on macrophages to limit antibody-dependent phagocytosis, a potential mechanism of resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. The aim of this phase IA/IB study was to investigate the safety/tolerability, antitumor effects and optimal dose and schedule of tislelizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: Patients (aged ≥18 years) enrolled in phase IA received intravenous tislelizumab 0.5, 2, 5 or 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks; 2 or 5 mg/kg administered every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks; or 200 mg every 3 weeks; patients in phase IB received 5 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Primary objectives were to assess tislelizumab's safety/tolerability profile by adverse event (AE) monitoring and antitumor activity using RECIST V.1.1. PD-L1 expression was assessed retrospectively with the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay. Results: Between May 2015 and October 2017, 451 patients (n=116, IA; n=335, IB) were enrolled. Fatigue (28%), nausea (25%) and decreased appetite (20%) were the most commonly reported AEs. Most AEs were grade 1–2 severity; anemia (4.9%) was the most common grade 3–4 AE. Treatment-related AEs led to discontinuation in 5.3% of patients. Grade 5 AEs were reported in 14 patients; 2 were considered related to tislelizumab. Pneumonitis (2%) and colitis (1%) were the most common serious tislelizumab-related AEs. As of May 2019, 18% of patients achieved a confirmed objective response in phase IA and 12% in phase IB; median follow-up duration was 13.6 and 7.6 months, respectively. Pharmacokinetics, safety and antitumor activity obtained from both phase IA and IB determined the tislelizumab recommended dose; ultimately, tislelizumab 200 mg intravenous every 3 weeks was the dose and schedule recommended to be taken into subsequent clinical trials. Conclusions: Tislelizumab monotherapy demonstrated an acceptable safety/tolerability profile. Durable responses were observed in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors, supporting the evaluation of tislelizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks, as monotherapy and in combination therapy, for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Trial registration number: NCT02407990 .