Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, associate director of clinical research and associate director of adult oncology with Keck Medicine of University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the significance of conducting biomarker testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in accordance with the results of the phase 2 CheckMate-142 trial (NTC02060188).

The 2-year update of the CheckMate-142 trial investigating nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) looked at patients with microsatellite instability (MSI)-high and/or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR). Lenz thinks that the data from this trial, which is showing the MSI status immune checkpoint inhibitors in the first line setting and has already been studied in the second- and third-line setting, will change the paradigm for treating patients with mCRC. Knowing what subgroup the patient is in, whether they have MSI-high disease, 

-mutated disease, will dictate which treatment options physicians can offer.

These treatment options are now associated with significant clinical activity and little toxicity, which means there are choices now, so physicians don’t need to use chemotherapy in the first line for patients with unique molecular subgroups, according to Lenz.

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Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, discusses the significance of conducting biomarker testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in accordance with the results of the phase 2 CheckMate-142 trial.

Analyzing the Importance of Biomarker Testing and MSI Status in mCRC

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, associate director for adult oncology and co-leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancers Program, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the significance of the latest updates in the CheckMate 142 trial exploring an immunotherapy treatment combination in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumors are microsatellite instabilityhigh or mismatch repair deficient.

The safety and efficacy of nivolumab (Opdivo) in combination with low-dose ipilimumab (Yervoy) in this patient population was analyzed in this phase II trial, presented at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting. Previous results showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 60%, while progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and duration of response (DOR) had not yet been reached.

Interestingly, Lenz says that the ORR increased; after 19.9 months of follow-up, the ORR increased to 64%. The 1-year OS rate also increased, while the PFS and DOR had not been reached. This suggests that the data are not mature enough for survival. The PFS will be longer than at least 14 or 15 months, which will make this combination superior to any other treatment option in this space, according to Lenz.

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, discusses the significance of the latest updates in the CheckMate 142 trial exploring an immunotherapy treatment combination in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumors are microsatellite instability&ndash;high or mismatch repair deficient.

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD | Authors

Articles

Analyzing the Importance of Biomarker Testing and MSI Status in mCRC

Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combination Data Promising in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC