Real-world analysis of nivolumab dosing regimens show that duration of therapy and adverse effects are similar for doses every 2 or 4 weeks

The analysis was performed in an oncology setting of the American community

Real-world results of adjuvant treatment of melanoma in an American community oncology setting were presented at AACR 2020. A retrospective review (from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019) of medical records of patients with the disease treated with nivolumab.

They were grouped by regime:

• Cohort 1 (C1): Nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks (without previous nivolumab treatment);
• Cohort 2 (C2): Changed to nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks after receiving 240 mg or 3 mg/kg of nivolumab every 2 weeks;
• Cohort 3 (C3): Nivolumab 3 mg / kg every 2 weeks (without previous nivolumab treatment);
• Cohort 4 (C4): Nivolumab 240 mg every 2 weeks (without previous nivolumab treatment).

Patients were followed up for ≥ 6 months after starting nivolumab. Treatment standards and safety outcomes were compared between cohorts. Propensity Score Matching was performed to minimize potential selection bias (C1: C4 and C2:C4).

In total, 191 patients with melanoma were identified (C1, n = 40; C2, n = 74; C3, N = 22; C4, n = 55). Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in the four cohorts. However, C3 patients had the lowest mean body mass index (25.8 kg / m²) and the lowest proportion of patients with ECOG 0 (32%).

The duration of treatment and the incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and severe TRAEs were similar in all unadjusted cohorts. These results were supported by paired cohort analysis (C1: C4 and C2: C4). Rates of treatment completion (12-month course) or ongoing treatment and reasons for discontinuation varied according to the cohort.

This analysis of real-world data of nivolumab dosing regimens shows that the duration of therapy and AEs are similar between regimens every 2 weeks and every 4 weeks in patients with melanoma.

Reference:
Samlowski, W et al. 1043-Real-world outcomes in patients receiving nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks vs other dosing regimens as treatment for melanoma in the adjuvant setting. Session Ms. CL06. 01-Immune Checkpoints: Clinical Aspects
https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9045/presentation/6889