Initial efficacy of anti-lymphocyte activation gene-3 (anti–LAG-3; BMS-986016) in combination with nivolumab (nivo) in pts with melanoma (MEL) previously treated with anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
Ascierto PA., Melero I., Bhatia S., Bono P., Sanborn RE., Lipson EJ., Callahan MK., Gajewski T., Gomez-Roca CA., Hodi FS., Curigliano G., Nyakas M., Preusser M., Koguchi Y., Maurer M., Clynes R., Mitra P., Suryawanshi S., Muñoz-Couselo E.
9520 Background: Signaling via LAG-3 and other T-cell inhibitory receptors (eg, PD-1) can lead to T-cell dysfunction and tumor immune escape. Simultaneous blockade of LAG-3 + PD-1 may synergistically restore T-cell activation and enhance antitumor immunity. In a phase 1/2a study, BMS-986016 (IgG4 mAb targeting LAG-3) ± nivo (IgG4 mAb targeting PD-1) demonstrated tolerability, peripheral T-cell activation, and preliminary clinical activity (NCT01968109; Lipson E, et al. J Immunother Cancer. 2016;4[s1]:173 [P232]). Here we describe preliminary efficacy of BMS-986016 + nivo in pts with MEL whose disease progressed on/after prior anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, along with updated safety from all dose expansion pts. Methods: Pts with MEL must have had prior anti–PD-1/PD-L1 (± anti–CTLA-4 or BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and progressive disease (PD). Pts received BMS-986016 80 mg + nivo 240 mg IV Q2W. Primary objectives were safety and objective response rate (ORR; complete [CR] + partial [PR] response), disease control rate (DCR; CR + uCR + PR + uPR + stable disease [SD] > 12 wk), and duration of response (RECIST v1.1). Results: At data cutoff, 43 pts with MEL had been treated with BMS-986016 + nivo following PD on/after prior anti–PD-1/PD-L1 with known prior best responses of 1 CR, 9 PR, 12 SD, and 16 PD. Of the 43 pts, 30 (70%) also had prior anti–CTLA-4, 20 (47%) had ≥ 3 prior therapies, and 15 (35%) had BRAFmutations .In the 31 efficacy-evaluable pts to date, ORR was 16% (confirmed/unconfirmed) and DCR was 45% with benefit observed even in some pts refractory to prior anti–PD-1. Evaluations are ongoing for most pts, with median treatment duration of 10 wk for all 43 pts. Immunopathologic (eg, PD-1/PD-L1 and LAG-3 expression) and clinical characteristics of responders vs nonresponders will be presented. Any grade and grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 46% and 9%, respectively, across all dose expansion pts (n = 129). Conclusion: Addition of BMS-986016 to nivolumab demonstrates encouraging initial efficacy in pts with MEL whose disease progressed on/after prior anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, and a safety profile similar to nivolumab monotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT01968109.