Abstract CT253: Results from KEYNOTE-B99: Phase 2 study of first-line (1L) pembrolizumab (pembro) plus investigational agents and chemotherapy (chemo) for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)
Authors: Rodríguez-Abreu Delvys , Hochmair Maximillian , Cho Byoung Chul , Csőszi Tibor , Kutiel Talia Shentzer , Müller Veronika , Ahn Myung-Ju , Kowalski Dariusz , Maio Michele , Moiseyenko Vladimir , Navarro Alejandro , Niu Jianxin , Fung Andrea S. , Lips Carolin , Zhou Heng , Zhao Bin , Lara-Guerra Humberto , Peled Nir 
Published: April 2024

Background: ES-SCLC is an aggressive cancer with substantial mortality. Current 1L treatments include anti-PD-(L)1 + etoposide-platinum chemo (EP), but with minimal improvements in OS vs chemo. In the phase 3 KEYNOTE-604 study, pembro + EP significantly improved PFS (P = 0.0023) but not OS vs placebo + EP; ORR was also improved (71% vs 62%). We present data from the phase 2 KEYNOTE-B99 study (NCT04924101) of 1L pembro + investigational agents (MK-4830, anti-ILT4; boserolimab, anti-CD27; or lenvatinib), and EP for ES-SCLC.

Methods: In this open-label platform study, patients (pts) were aged ≥18 y with previously untreated histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV ES-SCLC (per AJCC v8) and ECOG PS 0 or 1. Pts were randomized 1:1:1 to receive MK-4830 800 mg Q3W (35 cycles; arm A), boserolimab 30 mg Q6W (18 cycles; arm B), or lenvatinib 8 mg (induction)/20 mg (maintenance) QD (arm C). All pts received pembro 200 mg Q3W (35 cycles) + etoposide 100 mg/m2 Q3W and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 Q3W or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min Q3W (4 cycles). Primary endpoints were ORR and PFS at 6 mo, both assessed per RECIST v1.1 by BICR. Secondary endpoints included DOR, PFS, OS, and safety.

Results: 122 pts received ≥1 dose of study treatment (arm A, 43; B, 41; C, 38). At data cutoff (Sep 15, 2023), median follow-up was 14.1 (range, 6.1-25.7) mo. ORR was 65%, 71%, and 74% in arms A, B, and C, respectively; median DOR was 6.8, 4.7, and 7.1 mo. 6-mo PFS rates were 45%, 38%, and 54%, respectively (Table). AEs (any cause) occurred in 98% of pts in arm A and all pts in arms B and C; most commonly neutropenia and anemia. Serious AEs occurred in 30%, 37%, and 55%; grade ≥3 AEs in 86%, 83%, and 87% of pts; and grade 5 AEs in 5%, 7%, and 21%, respectively.

Conclusions: 1L ES-SCLC treatment with pembro + EP and MK-4830, boserolimab, or lenvatinib was associated with similar antitumor activity as in KEYNOTE-604 with pembro + EP. No new safety signals were identified.

TABLE 1. NAND Group A MK-4830 + Pembro + EP(n = 43) Group B boserolimab + Pembro + EP(n = 41) Group C Lenvatinib + Pembro + EP(n = 38) ORR (95% CI), % 65.1 (49.1-79.0) 70.7 (54.5-83.9) 73.7 (56.9-86.6) Median DOR (range), mo 6.8 (2.4-13.9) 4.7 (1.4+ to 16.4+) 7.1 (1.8 to 18.4+) PFS - 6-mo PFS rate (95% CI), % 45.2 (29.9-59.4) 37.8 (22.7-52.7) 54.2 (35.8-69.4) - Median PFS (95% CI), mo 5.5 (4.2-8.3) 5.5 (4.0-6.7) 7.2 (5.4-NR) Median OS (95% CI), mo 15.5 (8.3-NR) NR (13.2-NR) 15.8 (7.2-NR) ‘+’, no PD at the time of last disease assessment. NR, not reached.

Citation Format: Delvys Rodríguez-Abreu, Maximillian Hochmair, Byoung Chul Cho, Tibor Csőszi, Talia Shentzer Kutiel, Veronika Müller, Myung-Ju Ahn, Dariusz Kowalski, Michele Maio, Vladimir Moiseyenko, Alejandro Navarro, Jianxin Niu, Andrea S. Fung, Carolin Lips, Heng Zhou, Bin Zhao, Humberto Lara-Guerra, Nir Peled. Results from KEYNOTE-B99: Phase 2 study of first-line (1L) pembrolizumab (pembro) plus investigational agents and chemotherapy (chemo) for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr CT253.