Next Article in Journal
Stressing the Regulatory Role of Long Non-Coding RNA in the Cellular Stress Response during Cancer Progression and Therapy
Next Article in Special Issue
Therapeutic Strategies to Enhance Tumor Antigenicity: Making the Tumor Detectable by the Immune System
Previous Article in Journal
A Prognostic and Carboplatin Response Predictive Model in Ovarian Cancer: A Mono-Institutional Retrospective Study Based on Clinics and Pharmacogenomics
Previous Article in Special Issue
Radionuclide Imaging of Cytotoxic Immune Cell Responses to Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59

by
Camille Evrard
1,
Thomas Aparicio
2,
Emilie Soularue
3,
Karine Le Malicot
4,
Jérôme Desramé
5,
Damien Botsen
6,
Farid El Hajbi
7,
Daniel Gonzalez
4,
Come Lepage
4,8,
Olivier Bouché
6,
David Tougeron
9,10,* and
on behalf of the DURIGAST—PRODIGE 59 Investigators/Collaborators
1
Service d’Oncologie Médicale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Poitiers, 86000 Poitiers, France
2
Service d’Hépato Gastro-Entérologie et de Cancérologie Digestive, Hôpital Saint Louis, 75010 Paris, France
3
Service d’Oncologie Médicale, Institute Mutualiste Montsouris, 75014 Paris, France
4
Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive, EPICAD INSERM LNC-UMR 1231, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
5
Institut de Cancérologie, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, 69008 Lyon, France
6
Service d’Hépato Gastro-Entérologie et de Cancérologie Digestive, Hôpital Universitaire de Reims, 51100 Reims, France
7
Service d’Hépato Gastro-Entérologie et de Cancérologie Digestive, Centre Oscar Lambret, 59000 Lille, France
8
Service d’Hépato Gastro-Entérologie, Hôpital Universitaire de Dijon, 21000 Dijon, France
9
Service d’Hépato Gastro-Entérologie, Hôpital Universitaire de Poitiers, 86000 Poitiers, France
10
Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Poitiers, 86000 Poitiers, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
See DURIGAST—PRODIGE 59 investigators/collaborators in Supplementary Data S1.
Biomedicines 2022, 10(5), 1211; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051211
Submission received: 12 April 2022 / Revised: 13 May 2022 / Accepted: 19 May 2022 / Published: 23 May 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncoimmunity and Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors)

Abstract

:
Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as monotherapy in 2nd line treatment for gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma is low, with no evaluation of efficacy and safety of ICI combined with chemotherapy. The DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study is a randomised, multicentre, phase II study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab as 2nd line treatment of patients with advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Here, we report data from the safety run-in phase with FOLFIRI Durvalumab (arm A) or FOLFIRI Durvalumab and Tremelimumab (arm B). Among the 11 patients included, 63.6% experienced at least one grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) related to the treatment, most frequently neutropenia (36.4%). There was only one immune-related AE (grade 2 hyperthyroidism). Ten serious AEs were described among six patients, but only two were related to the treatment, due to the chemotherapy. One seizure epilepsy related to a brain metastasis was observed, but was not related by the investigator to the treatment. However, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended brain imaging at inclusion. This safety run-in phase demonstrates an expected safety profile of FOLFIRI with Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab combination allowing the randomised phase II.

1. Introduction

Overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma remains short, from 10 to 15% at 5 years. Addition of docetaxel to chemotherapy doublet (Platinum salt and 5-Fluorouracil, 5FU) for first-line treatment in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2) negative tumours has improved not only OS, but also toxicity [1,2,3]. Second-line treatments using a taxane (docetaxel or paclitaxel) alone or combined with ramucirumab or irinotecan alone or combined with 5FU (FOLFIRI) have improved OS (from 4.0 to 9.5 months) and progression-free survival (PFS) (from 2.5 to 5.3 months) as compared to BSC alone (about 3 months) [4,5,6,7,8,9].
Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown significant efficacy in advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinomas, especially anti-Program Death 1 (anti-PD1) and anti-Program Death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies combined with platinum-based chemotherapy in first-line setting [10,11]. The CheckMate-649 phase III trial has shown higher OS and PFS with the nivolumab plus chemotherapy (XELOX or FOLFOX) combination in the subgroup of patients with a PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5 versus chemotherapy alone [11]. By contrast, recent phase III trials comparing ICI alone versus chemotherapy have shown no survival increase [11,12,13]. The phase I/II CheckMate-032 study has compared nivolumab versus nivolumab plus ipilimumab and objective response rate (ORR) reached 24% [14]. Combination of durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) and tremelimumab (anti-Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, anti-CTLA4) in a phase Ib/II study showed a 6-month PFS of 20% [15]. To conclude, ICI alone has shown low efficacy, but a combination of ICI and ICI plus chemotherapy combination has shown promising results.
Data concerning safety and efficacy of ICI plus chemotherapy in second-line setting of metastatic gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma are lacking. Indeed, the randomised DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 phase II trial has been designed to assess the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI with durvalumab or durvalumab plus tremelimumab as second-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma. A safety run-in was planned to detect early and acute toxicity given that there are no safety data available on the combination of FOLFIRI regimen and ICI.

2. Patients and Methods

2.1. Study Design

The DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study (NCT 03959293) was a randomised, open-label, multicentre, non-comparative, phase II study conducted in France [16]. Patients with advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma, pre-treated with a fluoropyrimidine plus platinum salt +/− taxane (F + P ± T), were randomized 1:1 between FOLFIRI plus durvalumab (arm A) or FOLFIRI plus durvalumab plus tremelimumab (arm B). Due to a lack of data concerning the combination of ICIs plus FOLFIRI, a safety run-in phase was performed before the randomised phase II.
Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before treatment. The DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 trial was submitted for formal approval to the French Health Authorities (ANSM) and an independent Ethics Committee.

2.2. Study Objectives

The primary endpoint of the randomized phase II was the percentage of patients alive and without progression at 4 months in the two arms based on the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours (RECIST) 1.1 score evaluated by the investigator.
The main secondary endpoints were OS, safety profile and health-related quality of life. Adverse events (AEs) were described according to National Cancer Institute—Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (NCI-CTCAE v4.0).

2.3. Study Population

Main inclusion criteria were patients with histologically proven advanced unresectable gastric/GEJ (Siewert II or III) adenocarcinoma, with progression or intolerance after first-line chemotherapy with F + P ± T, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)—Performance Status (PS) 0 or 1 and adequate organ function. Main non-inclusion criteria were active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, use of immunosuppressive/steroid medication within 14 days before the first dose of study drugs and known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiencies [16] (see study protocol, Supplementary Data S1).

2.4. Treatment Scheme and Modalities

In arm A and B, Durvalumab was administered at a dose of 1500 mg in 1-h IV infusion every 4 weeks (Figure 1). In arm B, Tremelimumab was administered at a dose of 75 mg in 1-h IV infusion before Durvalumab, every 4 weeks. Tremelimumab was administered for only 4 cycles.
FOLFIRI regimen combined folinic acid 400 mg/m2 by 2-h IV infusion, 5FU bolus 400 mg/m2 by 10-min IV infusion, continuous 5FU 2400 mg/m2 by 46-h IV infusion and Irinotecan at 180 mg/m2 in arm A or 150 mg/m2 only for the safety run-in phase in arm B, by 2-h IV infusion every 2 weeks.
Treatment was repeated every 2 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, death, withdrawal of consent or patient refusal. Dose adjustment was based on toxicity according to standard guidelines for FOLFIRI. Dose reduction was not allowed for durvalumab and tremelimumab.
Patients were evaluated every 2 weeks with standard clinical examination and laboratory assessment. Morphological assessment with thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT-scan according to RECIST 1.1 criteria was performed every 8 weeks. Adverse events were collected every 2 weeks on day 1 of each treatment cycle and reported using NCI-CTCAE v4.0.

2.5. Safety Run-In Analysis

Given that the safety profile of the FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab combination has not been evaluated so far, a safety run-in phase was requested by French authorities (ANSM, “Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament”). A safety run-in phase with 2 steps was performed to evaluate first combination of FOLFIRI + durvalumab, and then the combination of FOLFIRI + durvalumab + tremelimumab.
There were no specific selection criteria in this safety run-in, inclusion and non-inclusion criteria were the same as the randomized phase II [16] (see study protocol, Supplementary Data S1). There was no placebo group in this open-labelled study.
A total of 11 patients were required in the safety run-in phase, which was limited to five expert centres with huge experience in the use of ICIs. At each step, inclusions were stopped, and when all patients had received at least 2 cycles of treatment, the safety analysis was done on all the safety data available at that date.
The first step of the safety run-in phase planned to enrol 5 patients treated with FOLFIRI (Irinotecan at 180 mg/m2) and durvalumab (Figure 1). If there was no safety issue, the second step was performed. The second step of safety run-in phase planned to enrol 6 patients randomised to receive FOLFIRI (Irinotecan at 180 mg/m2) and durvalumab versus FOLFIRI (Irinotecan at 150 mg/m2), durvalumab and tremelimumab, with 3 patients randomised per arm.
Safety data were reviewed by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC). There were no pre-defined criteria to stop the study.

2.6. Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics and individual data were done and are presented by arms and on the whole population. Quantitative variables were described with means, medians, standard deviations (SD) or interquartile ranges (IQR). Qualitative variables were described as frequencies and percentages.
All statistical analyses were carried out using SAS software 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).

3. Results

3.1. Patient and Tumour Characteristics

Eleven patients were included in the safety run-in phase of DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 trial between 17 July 2019, and 3 March 2020, 8 patients in arm A and 3 in arm B. The median age was 71 years and 36.4% of patients were female (Table 1).
Most tumours were GEJ location (81.8%) and intestinal histological subtype (70.0%). All tumours were microsatellite stable (MSS) and/or proficient MisMatch Repair (pMMR). Most patients had synchronous metastasis (81.8%) and the most frequent metastatic sites were the liver (45.5%) and lymph nodes (54.5%).
Regarding prior chemotherapy regimen, most patients received a first-line regimen treatment with doublet of chemotherapy (F + P) (72.7%).

3.2. Adverse Events in Overall Population and in Each Arm

At data cut-off 3 June 2021, median follow-up was 19.3 (95%CI: 14.7-not reached) months and 8 patients had stopped the treatment. Median duration of treatment was 7.6 months [IQR: 3.1–17.0] in arm A and 3.1 months [IQR: 2.1–11.1] in arm B.
Seven patients (63.6%) experienced at least one grade 3 or 4 AE related to the treatment, 5 in arm A (62.5%) and 2 in arm B (66.7%), respectively (Table 2). In arm A, the main AEs involved 3 patients with grade 3/4 neutropenia (37.5%) and 2 patients with grade 3/4 sequelae peripheral sensory neuropathy (25.0%). In arm B, one patient had grade 3/4 nausea (33.3%), one grade 3/4 neutropenia (33.3%) and one grade 3/4 fatigue (33.3%). AEs not related to the treatment are described in Supplementary Data S2.
Among the 11 treated patients, six patients (four in arm A and two in arm B) had at least one serious adverse event (SAE) with a total 10 SAEs. Among these 10 SAEs, two were associated with chemotherapy: anorexia grade 3 requiring a feeding jejunostomy and grade 3 deterioration of performance status requiring hospitalization. Among the eight SAEs unrelated to the treatment, there were two pneumopathies, two dysphagia, two pyelonephritis, one perigastric abscess and one epileptic seizure. Concerning this last SAE, the patient had brain metastases that were unknown before the epileptic seizure.
Only one immune-related AE (irAE) was observed in arm B (grade 2 hyperthyroidism), spontaneously resolving after the end of tremelimumab.

3.3. Modification of Treatment Related to Toxicity

At the data cut-off, eight patients had definitely discontinued the treatment (72.7%), seven due to disease progression (87.5%) and one patient due to an infectious pneumonia not related to the treatment (Table 3). One patient in arm A first stopped irinotecan only due to multiple grade 2 adverse events (anorexia, asthenia, diarrhoea and anaemia) and five weeks later discontinued the treatment due to disease progression.
Concerning the chemotherapy, irinotecan doses were reduced at least one time for two patients, one in arm A (dose reduction of 55.3%) and one in arm B (dose reduction of 33.3%), both due to toxicity. 5FU bolus doses were reduced at least one time for 2 patients in arm A (dose reduction of 50% and 48.8%) and 5FU continuous doses were reduced at least one time for three patients, one in arm A (dose reduction of 33.3%) and two in arm B (dose reduction of 33.7% and 27.6%), all due to toxicity.
Concerning ICIs, for tremelimumab there was no dose reduction. One patient had the four cycles of tremelimumab, and two patients stopped tremelimumab due to progression after two and three cycles, respectively. For durvalumab, there was no dose reduction, and eight patients had stopped durvalumab (72.7%), seven due to progression and one because of a pulmonary infection.

3.4. Modification of the Protocol According to Safety Run-In Phase

Based on these safety results, the IDMC decided to continue the study. Nevertheless, even though the epileptic seizure is related to a brain metastasis, the IDMC considered that it was not possible to rule out the possibility that the ICI promoted cerebral oedema around the metastasis, thereby causing the epileptic seizure. The IDMC has recommended, for patient safety, that brain imaging be performed at inclusion to identify brain metastases. These conclusions have been sent to ANSM. While ANSM then agreed to open the randomised phase II trial on 14 August 2020, brain imaging was required at baseline by CT-scan. Patients with previously unknown and untreated brain metastases were not included.
The randomized phase II started on 27 August 2020 and the recruitment was closed on 8 June 2021; final results are expected by the end of 2022.

4. Discussion

This safety run-in phase of DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 evaluated for the first time the combination of chemotherapy plus anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 in gastric/GEJ cancers and demonstrated an expected and acceptable safety profile.
There is no statistical hypothesis for this safety run-in phase, which was requested by the French authorities. A total of 11 patients is low to draw definitive conclusion of the safety of the combination of FOLFIRI + durvalumab + tremelimumab. The patient’s number was defined with the French authorities. There are some safety data with the combination of FOLFOX + durvalumab + tremelimumab [17] Indeed, we thought that the combination of FOLFIRI + durvalumab + tremelimumab will be safe. We mostly want to demonstrated the absence of severe diarrhoea with this combination in a small patient’s number in order to start as soon possible the randomized phase II, which is not the case among the 11 patients (no grade 3–4 diarrhoea). The whole randomized phase II will provide more robust safety results on a larger patient’s number since only 11 patients have been included in this safety run-in phase of DURIGAST PRODIGE 59.
Patient population in this safety run-in phase is the usual one for trials in advanced gastric/GEJ cancers with mainly GEJ location, mostly synchronous liver and lymph node metastasis. Grade 3/4 AEs related to the treatment were observed in 63.6% of patients, including neutropenia (36.4%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (18.2%), fatigue (18.2%), proteinuria (9.1%), nausea (9.1%) and anaemia (9.1%). Ten SAEs were reported, but only two SAEs were related to the treatment and due to the chemotherapy. No grade 3/4 AE or SAE was related to ICI. Peripheral sensory neuropathy reported in two patients is not a common toxicity of FOLFIRI regimen, but a sequel to first-line chemotherapy with platinum salt and, as is well-known, it can continue to worsen despite the stop of platinum salt during the second-line regimen. Other toxicities are those commonly observed with the FOLFIRI regimen. In the literature, for irinotecan-based regimen, common grade 3/4 AEs were neutropenia (28–39%), anaemia (7–30%), diarrhoea (14–26%) and vomiting (1–6%) [5,6,7]. One of the fears in the DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study was digestive toxicity, especially diarrhoea, which could be associated with both toxicity of irinotecan and colitis due to ICI. Nevertheless, we did not observe any grade 3/4 diarrhoea.
DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study is the first combination of chemotherapy and two ICIs. We already know that a combination of anti-PD-L1/anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 increase the rate of grade 3/4 immune-related AEs as compared to an anti-PD-L1/anti-PD-1 alone, from 10 to 25% [11,14,15,18]. In this safety run-in phase, we observed only one immune-related AE (grade 2 hyperthyroidism). With a combination of chemotherapy and ICI, grade 3/4 AEs were observed for 59% to 73% patients in recent trials in advanced gastric/GEJ cancers [10,11,12]. Most common grade 3/4 AEs were neutropenia (15–25%), anaemia (6–12%) and diarrhoea (6–8%). This rate is in accordance with our results with 63.6% of grade 3/4 AEs.
We observed three dose reductions of chemotherapy (5FU and/or Irinotecan) due to toxicity. All but one treatment stops were due to disease progression. These rates are in accordance with FOLFIRI regimen toxicities in gastric/GEJ adenocarcinomas [5,6,7].
As all AEs were expected with an acceptable safety profile of FOLFIRI plus durvalumab alone or combined with tremelimumab, the French regulatory authority agreed to start phase II of the DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 trial. Nevertheless, a brain CT-scan was required at baseline since an epileptic seizure related to a brain metastasis was observed. Recent studies suggest that ICIs have significant efficacy with an acceptable safety profile in treatment of brain metastases from various cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer and melanoma [19,20,21]. A recent review concluded that there is no additional neurotoxicity in patients with primary or secondary brain tumours and so far there have been no specific concerns regarding the neurological tolerability of ICI in patients with brain tumours [22].

5. Conclusions

DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study is the first study evaluating FOLFIRI plus ICIs as second-line treatment of advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma, which remains an unmet need. Even if the combination of nivolumab plus XELOX/FOLFOX is now the standard of care in the subgroup of patients with a CPS ≥ 5 in first-line treatment, it remains a major issue to evaluate chemotherapy plus ICIs in second-line setting [23]. In the DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study, while no patient had previously received an ICI, the results will help to determine whether FOLFIRI plus anti-PD-L1 and CTLA-4 provides better survival as compared to FOLFIRI plus anti-PD-L1. Primary endpoint is PFS with the hypothesis of 70% of patients alive and without progression at 4 months in the FOLFIRI plus durvalumab and tremelimumab arm (H0:50%). With a risk α of 5%, a power of 85% and according to the binomial exact method, 94 patients will be included for the randomised phase II. It is mandatory to evaluate immunological parameters to define the patients’ responsiveness to ICIs. Indeed, planned ancillary studies, in a centralized review, will identify predictive biomarkers of efficacy including PD-L1 expression and others immune markers, microsatellite instability, immune scores, tumour mutation burden and microbiota. These results will help to define the best combination to evaluate in a phase III trial in a second-line setting and also to determine whether this combination should be evaluated in all-comers or sub-groups of patients with relevant biomarkers.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/biomedicines10051211/s1, Supplementary Data S1: Study protocol; Supplementary Data S2: Treatment-not related adverse events.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, D.T.; formal analysis, C.E., K.L.M., D.G. and D.T.; methodology, K.L.M. and D.T.; validation, all authors; investigation, all authors; writing—original draft preparation, C.E. and D.T.; writing—review and editing, all authors; funding acquisition, D.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive (FFCD) is the sponsor of the DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 trial. The DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 clinical trial was funded in part by Astra Zeneca and FFCD is funding in part the biobank and molecular analysis.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Ethics Committee of Comité de Protection des Personnes (2018-002014-13 on 16 April 2019).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data can be made available upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in the study and their families. We thank all physicians who are participating in the DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 trial as well as clinical research study associates. We also thank the cooperative PRODIGE group (FFCD–UNICANCER GI–GERCOR) for their contribution and participation in the present trial, especially Lila Gaba the FFCD DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 project manager. Finally, we thank Astra Zeneca and the Ligue nationale contre le cancer for their support.

Conflicts of Interest

David Tougeron has served in a consulting/advisory role for Astra Zeneca. Other authors declare no conflict of interests related to this work. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

References

  1. Van Cutsem, E.; Moiseyenko, V.; Tjulandin, S.; Majlis, A.; Constenla, M.; Boni, C.; Rodrigues, A.; Fodor, M.; Chao, Y.; Voznyi, E.; et al. Phase III Study of Docetaxel and Cisplatin Plus Fluorouracil Compared with Cisplatin and Fluorouracil as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Report of the V325 Study Group. J. Clin. Oncol. 2006, 24, 4991–4997. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Van Cutsem, E.; Boni, C.; Tabernero, J.; Massuti, B.; Middleton, G.; Dane, F.; Reichardt, P.; Pimentel, F.L.; Cohn, A.; Follana, P.; et al. Docetaxel plus oxaliplatin with or without fluorouracil or capecitabine in metastatic or locally recurrent gastric cancer: A randomized phase II study. Ann. Oncol. 2014, 26, 149–156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Zaanan, A.; Samalin, E.; Aparicio, T.; Bouche, O.; Laurent-Puig, P.; Manfredi, S.; Michel, P.; Monterymard, C.; Moreau, M.; Rougier, P.; et al. Phase III randomized trial comparing 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin with or without docetaxel in first-line advanced gastric cancer chemotherapy (GASTFOX study). Dig. Liver Dis. 2018, 50, 408–410. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Ford, H.E.R.; Marshall, A.; Bridgewater, J.A.; Janowitz, T.; Coxon, F.Y.; Wadsley, J.; Mansoor, W.; Fyfe, D.; Madhusudan, S.; Middleton, G.W.; et al. Docetaxel versus active symptom control for refractory oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (COUGAR-02): An open-label, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013, 15, 78–86. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Thuss-Patience, P.C.; Kretzschmar, A.; Bichev, D.; Deist, T.; Hinke, A.; Breithaupt, K.; Dogan, Y.; Gebauer, B.; Schumacher, G.; Reichardt, P. Survival advantage for irinotecan versus best supportive care as second-line chemotherapy in gastric cancer—A randomised phase III study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO). Eur. J. Cancer 2011, 47, 2306–2314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Hironaka, S.; Ueda, S.; Yasui, H.; Nishina, T.; Tsuda, M.; Tsumura, T.; Sugimoto, N.; Shimodaira, H.; Tokunaga, S.; Moriwaki, T.; et al. Randomized, Open-Label, Phase III Study Comparing Irinotecan with Paclitaxel in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Without Severe Peritoneal Metastasis After Failure of Prior Combination Chemotherapy Using Fluoropyrimidine Plus Platinum: WJOG 4007 Trial. J. Clin. Oncol. 2013, 31, 4438–4444. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Maugeri-Saccà, M.; Pizzuti, L.; Sergi, D.; Barba, M.; Belli, F.; Fattoruso, S.I.; Giannarelli, D.; Amodio, A.; Boggia, S.; Vici, P.; et al. FOLFIRI as a second-line therapy in patients with docetaxel-pretreated gastric cancer: A historical cohort. J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. 2013, 32, 67. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Fuchs, C.S.; Tomasek, J.; Yong, C.J.; Dumitru, F.; Passalacqua, R.; Goswami, C.; Safran, H.; dos Santos, L.V.; Aprile, G.; Ferry, D.R.; et al. Ramucirumab monotherapy for previously treated advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (REGARD): An international, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013, 383, 31–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Wilke, H.; Muro, K.; Van Cutsem, E.; Oh, S.-C.; Bodoky, G.; Shimada, Y.; Hironaka, S.; Sugimoto, N.; Lipatov, O.; Kim, T.-Y.; et al. Ramucirumab plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in patients with previously treated advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (RAINBOW): A double-blind, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2014, 15, 1224–1235. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Boku, N.; Ryu, M.H.; Kato, K.; Chung, H.C.; Minashi, K.; Lee, K.W.; Cho, H.; Kang, W.K.; Komatsu, Y.; Tsuda, M.; et al. Safety and efficacy of nivolumab in com-bination with S-1/capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in patients with previously untreated, unresectable, advanced, or recurrent gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer: Interim results of a randomized, phase II trial (ATTRACTION-4). Ann. Oncol. 2019, 30, 250–258. [Google Scholar]
  11. Janjigian, Y.Y.; Shitara, K.; Moehler, M.; Garrido, M.; Salman, P.; Shen, L.; Wyrwicz, L.; Yamaguchi, K.; Skoczylas, T.; Bragagnoli, A.C.; et al. First-line nivolumab plus chemo-therapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric, gastro-oesophageal junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CheckMate 649): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2021, 398, 27–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Shitara, K.; Van Cutsem, E.; Bang, Y.-J.; Fuchs, C.; Wyrwicz, L.; Lee, K.-W.; Kudaba, I.; Garrido, M.; Chung, H.C.; Lee, J.; et al. Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab or Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone for Patients with First-line, Advanced Gastric Cancer: The KEYNOTE-062 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020, 6, 1571–1580. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  13. Bang, Y.-J.; Ruiz, E.Y.; Van Cutsem, E.; Lee, K.W.; Wyrwicz, L.; Schenker, M.; Alsina, M.; Ryu, M.H.; Chung, H.C.; Evesque, L.; et al. Phase III, randomised trial of avelumab versus physician’s choice of chemotherapy as third-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric or gas-tro-oesophageal junction cancer: Primary analysis of JAVELIN Gastric 300. Ann. Oncol. 2018, 29, 2052–2060. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Janjigian, Y.Y.; Bendell, J.; Calvo, E.; Kim, J.W.; Ascierto, P.A.; Sharma, P.; Ott, P.A.; Peltola, K.; Jaeger, D.; Evans, J.; et al. CheckMate-032 Study: Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab and Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients with Metastatic Esophagogastric Cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. 2018, 36, 2836–2844. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Kelly, R.J.; Lee, J.; Bang, Y.J.; Almhanna, K.; Blum, M.M.; Catenacci, D.V.T.; Chung, H.C.; Wainberg, Z.A.; Gibson, M.K.; Lee, K.W.; et al. Safety and Efficacy of Durvalumab and Tremelimumab Alone or in Combination in Patients with Advanced Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocar-cinoma. Clin. Cancer Res. 2020, 26, 846–854. [Google Scholar] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  16. Evrard, C.; Louvet, C.; Hajbi, F.E.; Fiore, F.D.; Malicot, K.L.; Aparicio, T.; Bouché, O.; Laurent-Puig, P.; Bibeau, F.; Lecomte, T.; et al. PRODIGE 59-DURIGAST trial: A randomised phase II study evaluating FOLFIRI + Durvalumab ± Tremelimumab in second-line of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Dig. Liver Dis. 2021, 53, 420–426. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Fumet, J.D.; Isambert, N.; Hervieu, A.; Zanetta, S.; Guion, J.-F.; Hennequin, A.; Rederstorff, E.; Bertaut, A.; Ghiringhelli, F. Phase Ib/II trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunological activity of durvalumab (MEDI4736) (anti-PD-L1) plus tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4) combined with FOLFOX in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. ESMO Open 2018, 3, e000375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  18. Takahashi, Y.; Sunakawa, Y.; Inoue, E.; Kawabata, R.; Ishiguro, A.; Kito, Y.; Akamaru, Y.; Takahashi, M.; Yabusaki, H.; Matsuyama, J.; et al. Real-world effectiveness of nivolumab in advanced gastric cancer: The DELIVER trial (JACCRO GC-08). Gastric Cancer 2021, 25, 235–244. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Li, W.; Jiang, J.; Huang, L.; Long, F. Efficacy of PD-1/L1 inhibitors in brain metastases of non-small-cell lung cancer: Pooled analysis from seven randomized controlled trials. Future Oncol. 2022, 18, 403–412. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Flippot, R.; Dalban, C.; Laguerre, B.; Borchiellini, D.; Gravis, G.; Négrier, S.; Chevreau, C.; Joly, F.; Geoffrois, L.; Ladoire, S.; et al. Safety and Efficacy of Nivolumab in Brain Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results of the GETUG-AFU 26 NIVOREN Multicenter Phase II Study. J. Clin. Oncol. 2019, 37, 2008–2016. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Tawbi, H.A.; Forsyth, P.A.; Hodi, F.S.; Lao, C.D.; Moschos, S.J.; Hamid, O.; Atkins, M.B.; Lewis, K.; Thomas, R.P.; Glaspy, J.A.; et al. Safety and efficacy of the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with melanoma and asymptomatic or symptomatic brain metastases (CheckMate 204). Neuro-Oncol. 2021, 23, 1961–1973. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Roth, P.; Winklhofer, S.; Müller, A.M.; Dummer, R.; Mair, M.J.; Gramatzki, D.; Le Rhun, E.; Manz, M.G.; Weller, M.; Preusser, M. Neurological complications of cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Treat. Rev. 2021, 97, 102189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Choi, S.; Park, S.; Kim, H.; Kang, S.Y.; Ahn, S.; Kim, K.-M. Gastric Cancer: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Approaches. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 543. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Figure 1. Treatment scheme of safety run-in phase.
Figure 1. Treatment scheme of safety run-in phase.
Biomedicines 10 01211 g001
Table 1. Patient and tumour characteristics.
Table 1. Patient and tumour characteristics.
VariablesAll Patients (n = 11)Arm A (Folfiri + Durvalumab) (n = 8)Arm B (Folfiri + Durvalumab + Tremelimumab) (n = 3)
Age (years, range)71 [42–78]72 [55–78]62 [42–70]
Female (n, %)4 (36.4%)3 (37.5%)1 (33.3%)
ECOG performance status (n, %)
04 (36.4%)2 (25.0%)2 (66.7%)
17 (63.6%)6 (75.0%)1 (33.3%)
Body Mass Index (kg/m2, range)26 [21–28]27 [21–28]23 [23–26]
Primary tumour site (n, %)
Gastro-oesophageal junction 9 (81.8%)7 (87.5%)2 (67.7%)
Stomach 2 (18.2%)1 (12.5%)1 (33.3%)
Tumour subtype (Lauren classification) (n, %)
Intestinal type
Diffuse type 7 (70.0%)4 (57.1%)3 (100%)
Unknown3 (30.0%)3 (42.9%)0
110
Microsatellite instability
Deficient000
Proficient11 (100%)8 (100%)3 (100%)
Delay of metastatic disease (n, %)
Metachronous 2 (18.2%)1 (12.5%)1 (33.3%)
Synchronous 9 (81.8%)7 (87.5%)2 (66.7%)
Resection of primary tumour (n, %)
No 8 (72.7%)6 (75.0%)2 (66.7%)
Yes 3 (27.3%)2 (25.0%)1 (33.3%)
Site of metastases (n, %) 3 (37.5%)2 (66.7%)
Liver5 (45.5%)1 (12.5%)1 (33.3%)
Lung2 (18.2%)3 (37.5%)0
Peritoneal carcinomatosis3 (27.3%)5 (62.5%)1 (33.3%)
Lymph nodes6 (54.5%)
Prior first-line chemotherapy regimen (n, %) 6 (75.0%)2 (66.7%)
Doublet regimen * 2 (25.0%)1 (33.3%)
Triplet regimen ** 8 (72.7%)
3 (27.3%)
ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; * fluoropyrimidine + platinum salt; ** fluoropyrimidine + platinum salt + taxane.
Table 2. Patient and tumour characteristics.
Table 2. Patient and tumour characteristics.
n, %Arm A
(Folfiri + Durvalumab) (n = 8)
Arm B
(Folfiri + Durvalumab + Tremelimumab) (n = 3)
Grade 1–2Grade 3–4-5Grade 1–2Grade 3–4-5
Patients with at least
one adverse event
8 (100.0%)5 (62.5%)3 (100.0%)2 (66.7%)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders5 (62.5%)-1 (33.3%)-
Pruritus1 (12.5%)---
Acneiform rash2 (25.0%) ---
Dry skin1 (12.5%)-1 (33.3%)-
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia 2 (25.0%)---
Renal and urinary disorders-1 (12.5%)--
Proteinuria-1 (12.5%)--
Nervous system disorders4 (50.0%)2 (25.0%)1 (33.3%)-
Peripheral sensory neuropathy4 (50.0%)2 (25.0%) 1 (33.3%)-
Endocrine disorders--1 (33.3%)-
Hyperthyroidism--1 (33.3%)-
Gastrointestinal disorders8 (100.0%)-2 (66.7%)1 (33.3%)
Constipation1 (12.5%)-1 (33.3%)-
Diarrhoea6 (75.0%)---
Dysgeusia 1 (33.3%)-
Dyspepsia3 (37.5%)---
Mucositis4 (50.0%)---
Nausea7 (87.5%)--1 (33.3%)
Vomiting3 (37.5%)-1 (33.3%)
Blood and lymphatic system disorders14 (100.0%)4 (50.0%)3 (100.0%)1 (33.3%)
Anaemia5 (62.5%)1 (12.5%)3 (100%)
Neutropenia 4 (50.0%)3 (37.5%)1 (33.3%)1 (33.3%)
Thrombocytopenia5 (62.5%)---
Musculoskeletal conditions1 (12.5%)-2 (66.7%)-
Back pain1 (12.5%)-2 (66.7%)-
General disorder7 (87.5%)1 (12.5%)1 (33.3%)1 (33.3%)
Fatigue5 (62.5%)1 (12.5%)1 (33.3%)1 (33.3%)
Fever1 (12.5%)---
Anorexia1 (12.5%)---
The total of adverse events could be superior to the total number of patients since some patients could have more than one adverse event.
Table 3. Dose reduction and treatment stop.
Table 3. Dose reduction and treatment stop.
n, %n = 11Definitive Discontinuation of Treatments (n = 8)
Dose Reduction for ToxicitiesTreatment Stop due to ToxicitiesTreatment Stop due to Progression Treatment Stop Planned by the ProtocolTreatment Stop for Other Reason(s) *
Irinotecan (n = 11)2 (18.2%)1 (12.5%)6 (75.0%) 01 (12.5%)
5FU bolus (n = 11)2 (18.2%)07 (87.5%) 01 (12.5%)
Continuous 5FU (n = 11)3 (27.3%)07 (87.5%) 01 (12.5%)
Durvalumab (n = 11)007 (87.5%) 01 (12.5%)
Tremelimumab (n = 3)002 (66.7%)1 (33.3%)0
* Infectious pneumonia not related to the treatment.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Evrard, C.; Aparicio, T.; Soularue, E.; Le Malicot, K.; Desramé, J.; Botsen, D.; El Hajbi, F.; Gonzalez, D.; Lepage, C.; Bouché, O.; et al. Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051211

AMA Style

Evrard C, Aparicio T, Soularue E, Le Malicot K, Desramé J, Botsen D, El Hajbi F, Gonzalez D, Lepage C, Bouché O, et al. Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59. Biomedicines. 2022; 10(5):1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051211

Chicago/Turabian Style

Evrard, Camille, Thomas Aparicio, Emilie Soularue, Karine Le Malicot, Jérôme Desramé, Damien Botsen, Farid El Hajbi, Daniel Gonzalez, Come Lepage, Olivier Bouché, and et al. 2022. "Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59" Biomedicines 10, no. 5: 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051211

APA Style

Evrard, C., Aparicio, T., Soularue, E., Le Malicot, K., Desramé, J., Botsen, D., El Hajbi, F., Gonzalez, D., Lepage, C., Bouché, O., Tougeron, D., & on behalf of the DURIGAST—PRODIGE 59 Investigators/Collaborators. (2022). Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59. Biomedicines, 10(5), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051211

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop