Purpose: Assess safety and efficacy of nivolumab plus nabpaclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer in a two-part, open-label, phase I trial. Patients and Methods: Fifty chemotherapy-naive patients received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m 2 plus gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m 2 (days 1, 8, and 15) and nivolumab 3 mg/kg (days 1 and 15) in 28day cycles. The primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs; part 1) and grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) or treatment discontinuation due to TEAEs (parts 1/2). Secondary efficacy endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response. Assessment of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was an exploratory endpoint; additional biomarkers were assessed post hoc. Results: One DLT (hepatitis) was reported in part 1 among six DLT-evaluable patients; 48 of 50 patients experienced grade 3/4 TEAEs and 18 discontinued treatment due to TEAEs. One grade 5 TEAE (respiratory failure) was reported. Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] PFS/OS was 5.5 (3.25-7.20 months)/9.9 (6.74-12.16 months) months, respectively [median follow-up for OS, 13.6 months (95% CI, 12.06-23.49 months)]. Overall response rate (95% CI) was 18% (8.6%-31.4%). Median PFS/OS was 5.5/9.7 months (PD-L1 <5%) and 6.8/11.6 months (PD-L1 ≥5%), respectively. Proportion of peripheral Ki67 þ CD8 þ /CD4 þ cells increased significantly from baseline to cycle 3; median peak on-treatment Ki67 þ CD8 þ T-cell values were higher in responders than in nonresponders. Conclusions: The safety profile of nivolumab plus nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine at standard doses in advanced pancreatic cancer was manageable, with no unexpected safety signals. Overall, the clinical results of this study do not support further investigation.

Multiple myeloma remains incurable. Despite the pursuit of various chemotherapeutic approaches, little improvement in outcome has been made in the last 30 years. Thalidomide, dexamethasone, and clarithromycin are oral, nonmyelosuppressive agents, each with reported single agent activity against myeloma. We evaluated a regimen of clarithromycin (Biaxin), low-dose thalidomide and dexamethasone (BLT-D) in patients with previously untreated or treated multiple myeloma or Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Patients were initially given clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, thalidomide 50-200 mg daily, and dexamethasone 40 mg weekly until disease progression. Minimum response was defined as > 50% reduction in monoclonal immunoglobulin or light chain levels in serum or urine. Response, toxicity, and survival were determined on an evaluable and/or intent-to-treat basis. Of the 50 patients available for analysis, 92% remain alive and 64% remain on treatment with a median and mean duration of treatment of 7 and 8 months, respectively. Overall, 93% of evaluable patients responded to BLT-D, including 13% complete remissions, 40% near complete responses, 13% major responses, and 27% partial responses. Minimal drug resistance was initially encountered. Neurotoxicity, although usually mild to moderate, was the primary reason for treatment discontinuation. Only four patients died, including three sudden deaths in patients with severe cardiopulmonary disease. It appears that BLT-D is a highly effective, nonmyelosuppressive regimen for myeloma. Caution should be exercised when using thalidomide, alone or in combination, in patients with a preexisting tendency to thromboses, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or neurologic dysfunction.

298 Background: Chemotherapy may work synergistically with immune checkpoint inhibitors by increasing tumor antigen exposure. This 2-part phase I study assessed safety and efficacy of Nivo + nab-P + Gem in APC. Methods: Treatment-naive patients (pts) with APC (locally advanced or metastatic) received nab-P 125 mg/m2 + Gem 1000 mg/m2 on d 1, 8, and 15 + Nivo 3 mg/kg on d 1 and 15 of each 28-d cycle until disease progression (PD), unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Pts could continue Nivo alone beyond initial PD. Part 1 assessed dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and determined the recommended Part 2 dose; Part 2 (expansion phase) further assessed safety. The primary endpoints were DLTs (Part 1) and safety and tolerability (Parts 1 and 2). Key secondary endpoints were response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: As of July 13, 2018, 50 pts with APC were treated: 6 in Part 1; 44 in Part 2. The median age was 67.5 years; 56% were male; 62% had an ECOG PS 1. Of 40 pts with available data, 12 (24%) had ≥ 1% and 6 (12%) had ≥ 5% PD-L1 expression at baseline (data missing for 10 pts). The median follow-up was 11.3 mo. In Part 1, 1 DLT (hepatitis, as evidenced by grade 3 elevated liver function tests; suspected to be related to nab-P + Gem) was reported. In Parts 1 and 2, 48 pts (96%) had ≥ 1 grade 3/4 TEAE; 7 (14%) discontinued treatment due to a TEAE. Most common (> 10%) grade 3/4 TEAEs of special interest were anemia (36%), neutropenia (36%), gastrointestinal events (24%), hepatic toxicity (22%), peripheral neuropathy (16%), thrombocytopenia (12%), and colitis (12%). One grade 5 TEAE, respiratory failure (most likely pneumonitis), was reported. The table shows treatment responses. Of 7 pts (14%) who continued Nivo beyond initial PD, 4 achieved disease control. The median PFS was 5.5 mo (6-mo PFS rate, 47%). The median OS was 9.9 mo (6-mo OS rate, 73%). Conclusions: Combining Nivo with nab-P + Gem is feasible in pts with APC: 1 DLT was reported, and no unexpected safety signals were detected. Clinical trial information: NCT02309177. [Table: see text]