Pembrolizumab in Relapsed or Refractory Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma

J Clin Oncol. 2019 Dec 1;37(34):3291-3299. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01389. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

Abstract

Purpose: Patients with relapsed or refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (rrPMBCL) have a poor prognosis, and their treatment represents an urgent and unmet need. Because PMBCL is associated with genetic aberrations at 9p24 and overexpression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) ligands (PD-L1), it is hypothesized to be susceptible to PD-1 blockade.

Methods: In the phase IB KEYNOTE-013 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01953692) and phase II KEYNOTE-170 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02576990) studies, adults with rrPMBCL received pembrolizumab for up to 2 years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end points were safety and objective response rate in KEYNOTE-013 and objective response rate in KEYNOTE-170. Secondary end points included duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Exploratory end points included association between biomarkers and pembrolizumab activity.

Results: The objective response rate was 48% (7 complete responses; 33%) among 21 patients in KEYNOTE-013 and 45% (7 complete responses; 13%) among 53 patients in KEYNOTE-170. After a median follow-up time of 29.1 months in KEYNOTE-013 and 12.5 months in KEYNOTE-170, the median duration of response was not reached in either study. No patient with complete response experienced progression, including 2 patients with complete response for at least 1 year off therapy. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 24% of patients in KEYNOTE-013 and 23% of patients in KEYNOTE-170. There were no treatment-related deaths. Among 42 evaluable patients, the magnitude of the 9p24 gene abnormality was associated with PD-L1 expression, which was itself significantly associated with progression-free survival.

Conclusion: Pembrolizumab is associated with high response rate, durable activity, and a manageable safety profile in patients with rrPMBCL.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / mortality
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local*
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • South America
  • Time Factors
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • pembrolizumab

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01953692
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02576990