Abstract 5710
Background
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive tumour of the skin associated with high recurrence rates and poor survival. Clinical trials have shown activity of various checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death-(ligand)-1 (PD-(L)1). Avelumab is currently the only PD-L1 inhibitor that has been approved in the Netherlands for advanced/metastatic MCC (mMCC). Here, we report the Dutch real-world efficacy data of avelumab in patients with mMCC.
Methods
All mMCC patients from 4 tertiary referral centres in the Netherlands from December 2016 were analysed. Patients were included in this analysis if they had received avelumab for mMCC, regardless of other previous lines of therapy. Patient data were collected retrospectively and followed up prospectively after initiation of data collection. Primary endpoints were response rate (RR) and duration of response (DOR) , secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Toxicity was evaluated according to CTCAE version 5.0.
Results
Forty-six patients received avelumab, of which 37 patients were evaluable for response (9 had not reached response evaluation, 1 died due to comorbidity). In 22 (59.5%) patients avelumab was first-line treatment. Median follow up time was 7.8 (IQR 3.7-10.1) months. RR was 59.5% (n = 22) with 21.6% (n = 8) of patients having a complete radiological response. Median DOR was 6.3 (IQR 3.0-12.5) months and 15 (40.5%) patients had ongoing response at time of data analysis. Median PFS was 12.2 (95% CI 3.3-21.1) months, median OS was not yet reached. In subgroup analysis no differences were found for the presence of visceral metastases at baseline or previous lines of therapy. Five (13.2%) patients experienced grade 3 toxicity, of which 2 (4.3%) patients discontinued avelumab. No grade 4-5 toxicity were seen.
Conclusions
In the Netherlands treatment with avelumab is increasingly used in first- and second-line treatment for mMCC. In this real-world cohort, RR, DOR, PFS and toxicity results were in line with results from clinical trials and show relatively high, durable responses in patients with mMCC, unaffected by the presence of visceral metastases or previous lines of therapy.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
3047 - Health-related quality of life in Greek haematogical malignancies patients undergoing chemotherapy
Presenter: Maria Lavdaniti
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1121 - Experiences of endocrine therapy after breast cancer surgery
Presenter: Susanne Ahlstedt Karlsson
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2305 - The effects of progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation on fatigue, coping styles, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant paclitaxel regimen: An-assessor blinded, three-arm randomized controlled trial
Presenter: Zehra Gok Metin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4561 - Agreement between breast cancer patients and oncologists on the severity of patients’ symptoms and functions during a one-year follow-up after treatment.
Presenter: Randi Reidunsdatter
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1768 - Taste Changes and Associated Factors in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Presenter: Gulcan Bagcivan
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1830 - CART-19: a comparative between literature versus experience
Presenter: Cassandra Andersson Vila
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4027 - Unplanned emergency department use by people receiving ambulatory anti-cancer agents with potential febrile neutropenia
Presenter: Meritxell Casanovas-Blanco
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4754 - Examining the benefits of medical exercise during radiotherapy in patients after mastectomy
Presenter: Nikolina Dodlek
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2510 - Assessment Quality of Life with Hand-Foot Syndrome Induced by Apatinib Combined with Anti-PD-1 Therapy in NSCLC
Presenter: Qi Jiang
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2989 - Adverse effects of chemotherapy influence the patients’ quality of life : Analysis of implicated factors
Presenter: Maria Lavdaniti
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract