Histology-specific clinical trial of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in patients with sarcoma Journal Article


Authors: Movva, S.; Seier, K.; Avutu, V.; Banks, L. B.; Chan, J.; Chi, P.; Dickson, M. A.; Gounder, M. M.; Kelly, C. M.; Keohan, M. L.; Maki, R.; Rosenbaum, E.; Salcito, T.; Rodriguez, K.; Dempsey, R.; Meyers, P. A.; Cohen, S. M.; Hensley, M. L.; Konner, J. A.; Schram, A. M.; Lefkowitz, R. A.; Erinjeri, J. P.; Qin, L. X.; Tap, W. D.; D'Angelo, S. P.
Article Title: Histology-specific clinical trial of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in patients with sarcoma
Abstract: PURPOSE: Survival of patients with metastatic sarcoma remains poor, and there is a pressing need for new therapies. Most sarcoma subtypes are not responsive to immune checkpoint inhibition alone. Lenvatinib, a multireceptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting tumor vasculature, has an immunomodulatory activity that contributes to its antitumor effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab would lead to improved clinical outcomes in patients with sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an open-label, single-arm study of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in the following cohorts: (A) leiomyosarcoma, (B) undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), (C) vascular sarcomas (angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma), (D) synovial sarcoma or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), and (E) bone sarcomas (osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma). The primary endpoint was the best overall response (BOR) rate documented by RECIST v1.1 by 27 weeks in each cohort, with a threshold of ≥2 responses among 10 patients. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, and safety. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint, which was met in the UPS and MPNST/synovial cohorts (BOR rates by 27 weeks of 25% and 30%, respectively). There were seven partial responses overall with additional responses noted in angiosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Treatment-related adverse events of any grade and grade 3 or higher occurred in 50/51 (98%) and 29/51 (57%) of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We observed durable responses in MPNST, synovial sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Patients with UPS and angiosarcoma also responded. Further exploration of this approach is warranted to confirm activity and determine optimal dosing schedules. ©2024 American Association for Cancer Research.
Keywords: adult; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; young adult; mortality; antineoplastic agent; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; pathology; monoclonal antibody; sarcoma; drug therapy; quinolines; quinoline derivative; antibodies, monoclonal, humanized; phenylurea compounds; very elderly; lenvatinib; carbanilamide derivative; humans; human; male; female; pembrolizumab
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 30
Issue: 24
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2024-12-15
Start Page: 5612
End Page: 5619
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.Ccr-24-2519
PUBMED: 39405335
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11730159
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledge in the PDF -- Corresponding authors is MSK author: Sujana Movva -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Jason Konner
    155 Konner
  2. Robert Maki
    238 Maki
  3. Ping Chi
    172 Chi
  4. Li-Xuan Qin
    190 Qin
  5. Mary Louise Keohan
    124 Keohan
  6. Martee L Hensley
    289 Hensley
  7. Mrinal M Gounder
    228 Gounder
  8. Sandra Pierina D'Angelo
    252 D'Angelo
  9. Joseph Patrick Erinjeri
    200 Erinjeri
  10. Mark Andrew Dickson
    169 Dickson
  11. Paul Meyers
    311 Meyers
  12. William Douglas Tap
    372 Tap
  13. Alison Michele Schram
    122 Schram
  14. Ciara Marie Kelly
    89 Kelly
  15. Kenneth Seier
    104 Seier
  16. Jason Earl Chan
    28 Chan
  17. Sujana Movva
    46 Movva
  18. Lauren Baker Banks
    12 Banks
  19. Viswatej Avutu
    32 Avutu
  20. Seth Matthew Cohen
    18 Cohen