Safety, activity, and immune correlates of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer

Suzanne L. Topalian*, F. Stephen Hodi, Julie R. Brahmer, Scott N. Gettinger, David C. Smith, David F. McDermott, John D. Powderly, Richard D. Carvajal, Jeffrey A. Sosman, Michael B. Atkins, Philip D. Leming, David R. Spigel, Scott J. Antonia, Leora Horn, Charles G. Drake, Drew M. Pardoll, Lieping Chen, William H. Sharfman, Robert A. Anders, Janis M. TaubeTracee L. McMiller, Haiying Xu, Alan J. Korman, Maria Jure-Kunkel, Shruti Agrawal, Daniel McDonald, Georgia D. Kollia, Ashok Gupta, Jon M. Wigginton, Mario Sznol

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10373 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Blockade of programmed death 1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor expressed by T cells, can overcome immune resistance. We assessed the antitumor activity and safety of BMS-936558, an antibody that specifically blocks PD-1. Methods: We enrolled patients with advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, or renal-cell or colorectal cancer to receive anti-PD-1 antibody at a dose of 0.1 to 10.0 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks. Response was assessed after each 8-week treatment cycle. Patients received up to 12 cycles until disease progression or a complete response occurred. Results: A total of 296 patients received treatment through February 24, 2012. Grade 3 or 4 drug-related adverse events occurred in 14% of patients; there were three deaths from pulmonary toxicity. No maximum tolerated dose was defined. Adverse events consistent with immune-related causes were observed. Among 236 patients in whom response could be evaluated, objective responses (complete or partial responses) were observed in those with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer. Cumulative response rates (all doses) were 18% among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (14 of 76 patients), 28% among patients with melanoma (26 of 94 patients), and 27% among patients with renal-cell cancer (9 of 33 patients). Responses were durable; 20 of 31 responses lasted 1 year or more in patients with 1 year or more of follow-up. To assess the role of intratumoral PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in the modulation of the PD-1-PD-L1 pathway, immunohistochemical analysis was performed on pretreatment tumor specimens obtained from 42 patients. Of 17 patients with PD-L1-negative tumors, none had an objective response; 9 of 25 patients (36%) with PD-L1-positive tumors had an objective response (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Anti-PD-1 antibody produced objective responses in approximately one in four to one in five patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer; the adverse-event profile does not appear to preclude its use. Preliminary data suggest a relationship between PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and objective response. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00730639.)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2443-2454
Number of pages12
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume366
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 28 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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