ASCO 2018: Avelumab Continues to Show Benefit in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Based upon a study unveiled at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, avelumab may prove to be an effective alternative to cytotoxic chemotherapy for patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (Abstract 9507), study investigators reported. Lead author Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, of the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, presented updated efficacy and safety data from part A of the single-arm, phase II, JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial.
“At 2 years plus follow-up, avelumab shows continued durable responses and meaningful survival outcomes in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, exceeding the outcomes associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy,” Dr. Nghiem and colleagues concluded.
In total, 88 patients were followed for a median of 29.2 months. The median duration of treatment was 3.9 months, and treatment continued in 9 patients (10.2%). The confirmed objective response rate of 33.0% remained unchanged from previous analyses at 1 year and 18 months. Responses were ongoing in 19 of 29 patients, including 12 with a response duration of more than 12 months. Durable responses led to stable rates of progression-free survival (29% at 1 year, 29% at 18 months, and 26% at 2 years).
As for adverse effects, they remained consistent with previous analyses: 67 patients (76.1%) had a treatment-related adverse event, 10 patients (11.4%) had a grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse event, and 20 patients (22.7%) had an immune-related adverse effect. Of note, no treatment-related deaths occurred.
