Abstract
Cathy Eng1, Marwan Fakih2, Manik Amin3, Van Morris1, Howard S. Hochster4, Patrick M. Boland5 and Hope Uronis6
1 MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
2 City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
3 Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
4 Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
5 Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
6 Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, USA
Correspondence to:
Cathy Eng, | email: | cathy.eng@vumc.org |
Keywords: anal neoplasms; immunotherapy;
Received: November 08, 2019 Accepted: March 14, 2020 Published: April 14, 2020
ABSTRACT
Squamous cell carcinoma of the anorectal canal (SCCA) is a rare HPV-related malignancy that is steadily increasing in incidence. A high unmet need exists for patients with persistent loco-regional and metastatic disease. Axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS11-001) is an investigational immunotherapy that stimulates tumor-specific responses against HPV-associated cancers, and has demonstrated benefit in metastatic cervical cancer. We conducted this single-arm, multicenter, phase 2 trial in patients with persistent/recurrent, loco-regional or metastatic SCCA. Patients received ADXS11-001, 1 × 109 colony-forming units intravenously every 3 weeks. A Simon 2-stage design was used to test primary co-endpoints of overall response rate (ORR) and 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. Study would proceed to full enrollment if ORR ≥ 10% or 6-month PFS rate ≥ 20%. Thirty-six patients were treated; 29 patients were evaluable for response. One patient had a prolonged partial response (3.4% ORR). The 6-month PFS rate was 15.5%. Grade 3 adverse event were noted in 10 patients, with the majority being cytokine-release symptoms; one grade 4 adverse event was noted. No grade 5 adverse events occurred. ADXS11-001 was safe and well-tolerated in patients with SCCA. However, this study did not meet either primary endpoint. ADXS11-001 may be more beneficial when administered in combination with other cytotoxic or targeted agents.