Pembrolizumab (pembro) in combination with gemcitabine (Gem) and concurrent hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) as bladder sparing treatment for muscle-invasive urothelial cancer of the bladder (MIBC): A multicenter phase 2 trial.
Authors: Balar Arjun Vasant , Milowsky Matthew I. , O'Donnell Peter H. , Alva Ajjai Shivaram , Kollmeier Marisa , Rose Tracy L , Pitroda Sean , Kaffenberger Samuel D. , Rosenberg Jonathan E. , Francese Kaitlyn , Hochman Tsivia , Goldberg Judith D , Griglun Sarah , Leis Dayna , Steinberg Gary D. , Wysock James , Schiff Peter B. , Sanfilippo Nicholas J. , Taneja Samir , Huang William C. 
Published: June 2021

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Background: Trimodality bladder preservation therapy (TMT) is a standard treatment option for clinically localized MIBC with curative intent. Pembro has shown activity in MIBC in the neoadjuvant setting and may combine well with TMT to improve outcomes. This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of pembro added to TMT in MIBC. Methods: This multicenter phase 2 trial included pts with cT2 – T4aN0M0 MIBC who declined or were ineligible for cystectomy (RC), ECOG PS 0/1, eGFR > 30 cc/min, and no contraindications to pelvic RT or pembro. No perioperative chemotx for MIBC was permitted. Pts received pembro 200 mg x 1 followed 2-3 weeks by maximal TURBT and then whole bladder RT (52 Gy/20 fx; IMRT preferred) with twice wkly gem 27 mg/m2 and pembro Q3 wks x 3 treatments. 12 wks post-RT, CT/MR AP, TUR of tumor bed and cytology were performed to document response. Up to 6 pts were enrolled to a safety cohort (SC) followed by 48 pts in efficacy cohort (EC). The primary endpt is 2-yr bladder-intact disease-free survival (BIDFS: first of MIBC or regional nodal recurrence, distant metastases, or death) assessed by serial cysto/cytology and CT/MRI. EC had 85% power to detect a 20% absolute improvement in 2-yr BIDFS rate over 60% historical rate (RTOG Pooled analysis; Mak JCO 2014). Key secondary endpts were safety, 12 wks CR rate, metastases-free survival and overall survival. Tumor tissue was collected at study entry, maximal TURBT and post-treatment TUR of tumor bed with serial PBMCs for correlative analyses. Results: From 5/2016 to 10/2020, 54 pts (6 SC, 48 EC; 72% M) enrolled at 5 centers; Median age 67 (65-89) for SC and 74 (51-97) for EC. C-stage (74% cT2, 22% cT3, and 4% cT4). 39 (72%) declined RC. All 6 pts in SC and 42/48 (88%) of EC pts completed all study therapy; 1/48 (2%), 2/48 (4%), and 4/48 (8%) discontinued RT/Gem, Gem or Pembro, respectively, most often due to toxicity. As of 1/2021 (median F/U 40.9 mos (38.6-50.8) SC and 11.7 mos (0.6 – 32.2) EC), no recurrences in SC, and 12/48 EC pts had any recurrence (6 NMIBC, 0 MIBC, 2 regional and 4 distant). The estimated 1 yr BIDFS rate is 77% (95% CI: 0.60-0.87). 12 wks CR rate was 100% in SC and 83% for EC (1 PR, 3 NR, 1 Progression, 11 NE; 2 still on active study). In the EC, 35% of pts had a Gr ≥3 TEAE (Gr 3 events included UTI 8%, diarrhea 4%, colitis 4%, bladder pain/obstruction 4%, neutropenia 2%, thrombocytopenia 2%). Notable Pembro Gr ≥3 TRAE included 3 pts (6%) Gr 3 GI toxicity and 1 pt Gr 4 colonic perforation. 1 patient died due to fungemia, unrelated to study therapy. Conclusions: Pembro added to hypofractionated RT and twice weekly gem was well-tolerated with promising efficacy in this early analysis. Pembro-related toxicity was consistent with prior monotherapy trials. Selected correlative analyses from serially collected blood and tissue specimens will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT02621151.