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International Journal of Clinical Oncology

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Open Access 01-01-2020 | Urothelial Cancer | Original Article

Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy in recurrent, advanced urothelial cancer in Japanese patients: a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-045 trial

Authors: Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Naoto Sassa, Kazuo Nishimura, Kiyohide Fujimoto, Satoshi Fukasawa, Minato Yokoyama, Hideki Enokida, Kenichi Takahashi, Yoshinobu Tanaka, Kentaro Imai, Takashi Shimamoto, Rodolfo Perini, Tara Frenkl, Dean Bajorin, Joaquim Bellmunt

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

The open-label, randomized, active-controlled KEYNOTE-045 study (NCT02256436) showed that second-line pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer (UC) that progressed after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy, compared with standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine). Pembrolizumab is approved for patients with bladder cancer in Japan.

Patients and methods

Analysis was performed in the subgroup of Japanese patients enrolled in the KEYNOTE-045 study. Coprimary end points were OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Objective response rate (ORR) and safety were secondary end points.

Results

Fifty-two Japanese patients (pembrolizumab, n = 30; chemotherapy, n = 22) were followed up for a median of 26.1 months. Patients who received pembrolizumab compared with chemotherapy had a 19% lower risk for death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81, 95% CI 0.44–1.50); after adjusting for baseline covariates, the HR for OS was 0.61 (95% CI 0.32–1.15). The 24-month OS rate was higher with pembrolizumab (26.9% vs 14.3%). PFS was 2.0 and 4.9 months for pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, respectively (HR 1.71, 95% CI 0.95–3.08). ORR was similar for pembrolizumab and chemotherapy (20.0% vs 18.2%); durability of response was higher with pembrolizumab: 67% and 33% of patients, respectively, maintained a response for > 12 months. Treatment-related adverse events, including grade 3–5 events, occurred less frequently with pembrolizumab.

Conclusions

Pembrolizumab provided durable antitumor activity in patients with locally advanced/metastatic UC that progressed after platinum-containing chemotherapy in the overall population and in the Japanese subgroup; safety profile was consistent with that previously observed for pembrolizumab.

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Title: Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy in recurrent, advanced urothelial cancer in Japanese patients: a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-045 trial
Authors: Hiroyuki Nishiyama
Yoshiaki Yamamoto
Naoto Sassa
Kazuo Nishimura
Kiyohide Fujimoto
Satoshi Fukasawa
Minato Yokoyama
Hideki Enokida
Kenichi Takahashi
Yoshinobu Tanaka
Kentaro Imai
Takashi Shimamoto
Rodolfo Perini
Tara Frenkl
Dean Bajorin
Joaquim Bellmunt
Publication date: 01-01-2020
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Keywords: Urothelial Cancer
Urothelial Cancer
Cytostatic Therapy
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1341-9625
Electronic ISSN: 1437-7772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-019-01545-4

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