Dr. D'Angelo on Bempegaldesleukin/Nivolumab Combo in Sarcomas

Sandra P. D’Angelo, MD, medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the results of a pilot study investigating the combination of bempegaldesleukin (NKTR-214) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with sarcomas.

The multicenter study enrolled 50 patients into 9 cohorts: leiomyosarcoma (LMS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), chondrosarcoma (CS) and osteosarcoma (OS), angiosarcoma (AS), alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), synovial sarcoma/small blue round cell, and other. These patients were extensively pre-treated, with 50% of patients having received ≥3 prior therapies, said D’Angelo. The average duration of systemic treatment before enrolling on the trial was about 100 days.

Patients received the combination of bempegaldesleukin (.0006 mg/kg) plus nivolumab (360 mg) every 3 weeks. The combination demonstrated promising activity in various cohorts. Two patients with UPS had a confirmed partial response (PR), along with one patient with CS and one patient with LMS. A decrease in tumor burden was also reported in certain patients.

A good deal of activity with the combination has been observed in those with AS, which is of particular interest because the disease has shown to be responsive to checkpoint inhibitors, says D’Angelo. Of the 5 patients enrolled in this subgroup, there was 1 confirmed PR, 4 patients achieved stable disease, and 2 experienced a decrease in tumor burden.

Several patients with DDLPS were observed to have prolonged disease stability with the combination; this is important as these were patients who had progressive disease prior to trial enrollment, explains D’Angelo.

Based on these results, further exploration of the combination in a treatment-naïve setting is warranted, concludes D’Angelo.