The IMPemBra trial, a phase II study comparing pembrolizumab with intermittent/short‐term dual MAPK pathway inhibition plus pembrolizumab in melanoma patients harboring the BRAFV600 mutation.
Authors: Rozeman Elisa A. , Versluis Judith M. , Sikorska Karolina , Lacroix Ruben , Grijpink-Ongering Lindsay G , Heeres Birthe , Van De Wiel Bart A. , Dimitriadis Petros , Sari Ayşegül , Heijmink Stijn , Kvistborg Pia , van den Broek Daan , Broeks Annegien , de Groot Jan Willem , Wilgenhof Sofie , Vollebergh Marieke Anne , Van Thienen Johannes V. , Haanen John B. A. G. , Blank Christian U. 
Published: May 2020

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Background: Continuous combination of MAPK inhibition (MAPKi) and anti-PD-(L)1 has been investigated by several trials to improve outcome of BRAFV600 mutated melanoma patients. A major obstacle for continuous combination is the high frequency (~60%) of grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) for which many patients need to discontinue (~40%). In a preclinical model we showed that short‐time MAPKi induces T cell infiltration and is synergistic with anti-PD‐1. In patients T cell infiltration increased after short-term MAPKi, while after > 2 weeks this was often diminished. The aim of this phase 2b study was to identify the optimal duration of MAPKi with dabrafenib (BRAFi) + trametinib (MEKi) in combination with pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) in terms of safety, feasibility and immune-activating capacity. Methods: Treatment-naïve BRAFV600E/K mutant advanced melanoma patients started pembrolizumab (PEM) 200mg Q3W and were randomized in week 6 to continue PEM only (cohort 1) or to receive in addition intermittent dabrafenib (D) 150 mg BID + trametinib (T) 2mg QD for 2 x 1 week (cohort 2), 2 x 2 weeks (cohort 3), or continuous for 6 weeks (cohort 4). All cohorts continued PEM for up to 2 years. Primary endpoints were safety and treatment-adherence. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR, RECIST 1.1) at week 6, 12, 18 compared to baseline and PFS. Results: Between June 2016 and August 2018, 32 patients have been included; 56% were male, 50% had M1c disease and the majority had a BRAFV600E mutation (81%) and a baseline LDH level > ULN (87%). Grade 3-4 TRAE were observed in 12%, 12%, 50%, and 62% of patients in cohort 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. All planned D+T was given in 88%, 63%, and 38% of patients in cohort 2, 3, and 4. Most patients needed to interrupt or discontinue D+T due to fever or elevated liver enzymes. ORR at week 6, week 12, and week 18 were 38%, 62%, and 62% in cohort 1, 25%, 62%, and 75% in cohort 2, 25%, 50%, and 75% in cohort 3 and 0%, 62%, and 50% in cohort 4. After a median follow-up of 17.4 months, the median PFS of patients treated with PEM monotherapy was 10.6 months compared to 27.0 months for patients treated with PEM and short-term/intermittent D+T (p = 0.13). Conclusions: Combination of PEM plus intermittent D+T seems more feasible and tolerable than continuous triple therapy. Intermittent short-time combination therapy might be equally effective, enables therapy with MAPKi as a second line, and therefore warrants further investigation in a larger patient cohort. Clinical trial information: NCT02625337.