Phase I trial results for nivolumab and pembrolizumab in lymphoma and multiple myeloma

Paula Rodríguez, MD, PhD from the University Clinic of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain gives an overview of the two main PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and pembrolizumab. A Phase I trial of nivolumab as a single agent for a group of hematological malignancies, showed an overall response rate of around 40% for diffuse large B-cell and follicular lymphoma (NCT02038933 and NCT02038946) and an overall response rate of 87% in Hodgkin lymphoma (NCT01592370). In multiple myeloma (MM), nivolumab as a single agent only achieved a stabilization of the disease and according to Dr Rodríguez, these drugs need to be combined in MM. Dr Rodríguez gives an overview of two Phase I trials that combine pembrolizumab with IMiDs in relapsed/refractory MM, the first combines pembrolizumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (NCT02036502) and other combines pembrolizumab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (NCT02576977). According to Dr Rodríguez the results are promising with overall response rates of around 60 to 70% but at this stage, preliminary. Dr Rodríguez further discusses the next steps for these drugs and explains that the data from the Phase I trials needs to mature. The next step is Phase III randomized trials to address the question of superiority of the triplet vs the doublet combinations.
Recorded at the 2016 World Congress on Controversies in Multiple Myeloma (COMy) in Paris, France.