Expert perspectives on Study 309/KEYNOTE-775, which combined pembrolizumab with lenvatinib in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma.
Case: A 70-Year-Old Woman With Endometrial Cancer
Initial Presentation
Clinical work-up
Treatment
Treatment
Transcript:
Michael Birrer, MD, PhD: When the whole microsatellite-unstable phenomenon broke through, it came from TCGA [The Cancer Genome Atlas] of endometrial cancer, and then pembrolizumab splashed onto the scene. We knew we had a new option for about 35% of endometrial cancers, but the other 65% to 75% are microsatellite-stable tumors. What do we have to offer for them? Along comes this combination of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab. Lenvatinib is a bit of a dirty kinase. It’s not as narrow and specific as others, but that’s probably why it works—meaning it’s inhibiting a number of tyrosine kinases, 1, 2, or 3 of which then synergize with the immune modulation from pembrolizumab.
Initial studies were phase 2 trials, most coming out of [Johns] Hopkins, showing this tremendous response rate, pushing toward 50%. But more important, [they had] a disease control rate around 75%, meaning there were patients who didn’t get a response but had shrinkage and control of their tumor. This combination looked interesting, but KEYNOTE-775 was the home run, directly examining this combination in comparison with standard of care, which is chemotherapy. This showed not only a progression-free survival advantage but an overall survival advantage. I would ask anybody in the audience, “How many times have you seen a randomized phase 3 trial in endometrial cancer showing an overall survival advantage?” It’s very rare.
For years, we used doxorubicin based on no objective survival advantage data. Here we have a combination that’s terrific and very effective, and it’s targeted to the microsatellite-stable population, which is the majority. The only thing to remember is that while pembrolizumab has a very defined toxicity profile, lenvatinib is a little harder as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It has hypertension, which can be impressive and quick; diarrhea; and fatigue. People just need to realize that the FDA-approved dose is 20 mg, which I use, but a lot of my colleagues start at 10 or 14 mg because they’re worried about the toxicity.
Transcript edited for clarity.
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