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Joyce F. Liu, MD, MPH
Joyce F. Liu, MD, MPH
Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Emese Zsiros, MD, PhD, FACOG, and colleagues from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, conducted a phase II trial (ClinicalTrials.gov indicator NCT02853318) exploring the combination of pembrolizumab, bevacizumab, and oral cyclophosphamide in recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The results demonstrated a median progression-free survival of 10.2 months. The treatment regimen also achieved an objective response rate of 47.5%, and 30% of patients experienced disease control for over a year. These findings, which were published in Nature Communications, highlight the potential of combining immunotherapy and immune-modulating strategies to enhance antitumor responses in this patient population.
“These findings bring us closer to making meaningful advances for women battling recurrent ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Zsiros in a Roswell Park press release. “They not only enhance our understanding of the tumor-immune-gut axis but also open up exciting possibilities for new therapeutic strategies.”
The study included 40 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who had been heavily pretreated, with many exhibiting platinum resistance. The primary endpoint of progression-free survival was met. Secondary endpoints included an objective response rate of 47.5% and disease control in 30% of patients for more than 1 year. These clinical outcomes were notable, according to the study authors, given the advanced stage of disease and resistance to conventional therapies in the study population.
Additionally, the trial incorporated extensive molecular, immune, microbiome, and metabolic profiling of patient samples. Results revealed increased clustering of T and B cells, alongside distinct microbial patterns associated with improved clinical responses. Specifically, the investigators identified the CD40 protein as a potential target for triggering immune responses against ovarian cancer. Furthermore, alterations in amino acid and lipid metabolism were identified as key factors linked to better outcomes.
These findings suggest that the immune environment, along with host-microbiome interactions, seems to play a significant role in mediating response to treatment and could be leveraged to improve outcomes in future immunotherapy trials for recurrent ovarian cancer.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
