Pilot clinical trial of perioperative durvalumab and tremelimumab in the treatment of resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases

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22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the prognostic importance of immune infiltrate in colorectal cancer, immunotherapy has demonstrated limited clinical activity in refractory metastatic proficient mismatch-repair (pMMR) colorectal cancer. This study explores combining anti-CTLA-4 and an anti-PD-L1 therapy in the preoperative management of resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases with the intent to improve immune responses in this disease setting. Patients and Methods: Patients with resectable colorectal cancer liver-only metastases received one dose of tremelimumab and durvalumab preoperatively followed by single-agent durvalumab postoperatively. Primary objectives were to determine feasibility and safety. Results: A total of 24 patients were enrolled between November 2016 and November 2019. Twenty-three patients received treatment [21 pMMR and 2 deficient mismatch-repair (dMMR)] and subsequently 17 (74%; 95% CI: 53%-88%) underwent surgical resection. Grade 3/4 treatment-related immune toxicity and postoperative grade 3/4 toxicity were seen in 5/23 (22%; 95% CI: 10%-44%) and 2/17 (12%; 95% CI: 2%-38%) patients. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 9.7 (95% CI: 8.1-17.8) months, and overall survival was 24.5 (95% CI: 16.5-28.4) months. Four patients demonstrated complete pathologic response, two dMMR patients and two POLE mutation patients. Pre- and post-tumor tissue analysis by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and RNA sequencing revealed similar levels of T-cell infiltration, but did demonstrate evidence of CD8þ and CD4þ activation posttreatment. An increase in B-cell transcriptome signature and B-cell density was present in posttreatment samples from patients with prolonged RFS. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the safety of neoadjuvant combination tremelimumab and durvalumab prior to colorectal cancer liver resection. Evidence for T- and B-cell activation following this therapy was seen in pMMR metastatic colorectal cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3039-3049
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume27
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Microbiome Facility
  • Tissue Biospecimen and Pathology Resource
  • Biostatistics Resource Group
  • Clinical Trials Office
  • Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Facility

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