Open AccessAvelumab in Patients With Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors With Resistance to Single-Agent Chemotherapy: Cohort A of the TROPHIMMUN Phase II Trial
Author(s) -
Benoît You,
PierreAdrien Bolze,
JeanPierre Lotz,
Jérôme Massardier,
Laurence Gladieff,
Florence Joly,
Touria Hajri,
Delphine MaucortBoulch,
Sylvie Bin,
Pascal Rousset,
Mojgan DevouassouxShisheboran,
Adeline Roux,
Marine Alves-Ferreira,
D. Grazziotin-Soares,
Carole LangloisJacques,
Catherine Mercier,
Gilles Freyer,
Gilles Freyer
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.482
H-Index - 548
eISSN - 1527-7755
pISSN - 0732-183X
DOI - 10.1200/jco.20.00803
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , gastroenterology , nausea , oncology
PURPOSE Women with gestational trophoblastic tumors (GTT) resistant to single-agent chemotherapy receive alternative chemotherapy regimens, which, although effective, cause considerable toxicity. All GTT subtypes express programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and natural killer (NK) cells are involved in trophoblast immunosurveillance. Avelumab (anti–PD-L1) induces NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. The TROPHIMMUN trial assessed avelumab in women with chemotherapy-resistant GTT.METHODS In this phase II multicenter trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03135769 ), women with GTT who experienced disease progression after single-agent chemotherapy received avelumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks until human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) normalization, followed by 3 consolidation cycles. Rate of hCG normalization was the primary endpoint (2-step Simon design).RESULTS Between December 2016 and September 2018, 15 patients were treated. Median age was 34 years; disease stage was I or III in 53.3% and 46.7% of women, respectively; and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) score was 0-4 in 33.3%, 5-6 in 46.7%, and ≥ 7 in 20% of patients. Prior treatment included methotrexate (100%) and actinomycin D (7%). Median follow-up was 25 months, and median number of avelumab cycles was 8 (range, 2-11). Grade 1-2 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 93% of patients, most commonly (≥ 25%) fatigue (33.3%), nausea/vomiting (33.3%), and infusion-related reaction (26.7%). One patient had grade 3 uterine bleeding (treatment unrelated). Eight patients (53.3%) had hCG normalization after a median of 9 avelumab cycles; none subsequently relapsed. Probability of normalization was not associated with disease stage, FIGO score, or baseline hCG. One patient subsequently had a healthy pregnancy. In avelumab-resistant patients (46.7%), hCG was normalized with actinomycin D (42.3%) or combination chemotherapy/surgery (57.1%).CONCLUSION In patients with single-agent chemotherapy-resistant GTT, avelumab had a favorable safety profile and cured approximately 50% of patients. Avelumab could be a new therapeutic option, particularly in patients who would otherwise receive combination chemotherapy.