Nivolumab in second or third line setting for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): The real-world experience from Guy’s Hospital.

Abstract

624 Background: Nivolumab (Nivo) has been approved by the FDA for patients (pts) with mRCC who have received prior VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibition based on the Checkmate 025 study. However following various new anti-angiogenic therapies licensed over the past decade, optimal sequence of treatments in mRCC remains unknown. Methods: This is a retrospective review of mRCC pts who received nivo at Guy’s Hospital. Pts were divided based on treatment line setting. Clinical characteristics, response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS), duration on treatment and safety are reported. Results: Between March 2016 and April 2018, 50 pts with mRCC received nivo, 25 as second line (2L) and 25 as third line treatment or beyond (3L+). In 2L setting, median age was 62 years and 68% were male. 76% had a nephrectomy, with a majority of clear cell (cc) histology (92%). 96% of pts had visceral metastases. 88% received pazopanib in the first line setting (1L). Median age for pts in 3L+ was 60 years and 88% were male. 60% had a nephrectomy and 80% had cc histology. 96% had visceral metastases. Pazopanib was given in 72% in 1L. RR was 28% and 16% in 2L and 3L+ respectively. Median duration of treatment was 4.3 months in 2L and 2.2 months in 3L+, with 11 patients (22%) still on treatment. Median follow-up time was 12.4 months in 2L and 9 months in 3L+. Median PFS was 4.8 months and 3.7 months respectively in 2L and 3L+ groups. Median OS was not reached in either group. Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 7 pts (14%). 5 pts experienced grade 3/4 toxicities (colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, arthritis and nephritis), with 4 pts in 3L+. Overall 22 pts received subsequent treatments: 8/25 (32%) had cabozantinib (cabo) and 4/25 (16%) were treated with axitinib following nivo given in 2L. For pts who received nivo in the 3L+ setting 7/25 (28%) received cabo and 2/25 (8%) had axitinib as subsequent therapy. Conclusions: Our real world data supports the efficacy and safety of nivo following VEGF inhibition for pts with mRCC. Nivo was associated with a trend towards superior clinical responses in the 2L setting. For the entire cohort no new safety signals were reported.