2024
Pooled Long-Term Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab Alone in Patients With Advanced Melanoma.
Long G, Larkin J, Schadendorf D, Grob J, Lao C, Márquez-Rodas I, Wagstaff J, Lebbé C, Pigozzo J, Robert C, Ascierto P, Atkinson V, Postow M, Atkins M, Sznol M, Callahan M, Topalian S, Sosman J, Kotapati S, Thakkar P, Ritchings C, Pe Benito M, Re S, Soleymani S, Hodi F. Pooled Long-Term Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab Alone in Patients With Advanced Melanoma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, jco2400400. PMID: 39504507, DOI: 10.1200/jco.24.00400.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPatients treated with nivolumabOverall survivalNivolumab monotherapyMultivariate analysisPD-L1Advanced melanomaPD-L1 expression levelsFactors associated with decreased survivalLong-term overall survivalPresence of liver metastasesCox proportional multivariate analysisFactors associated with survivalLactate dehydrogenaseClinical factors associated with survivalPD-L1 expressionTreatment naive patientsMedian follow-upElevated lactate dehydrogenaseCompany-sponsored trialsAssociated with survivalUnresectable/metastatic melanomaCheckpoint inhibitorsOS ratesTreatment decision makingImmunotherapy utilization in stage IIIA melanoma: less may be more
Frey A, Kerekes D, Khan S, Tran T, Kluger H, Clune J, Ariyan S, Sznol M, Ishizuka J, Olino K. Immunotherapy utilization in stage IIIA melanoma: less may be more. Frontiers In Oncology 2024, 14: 1336441. PMID: 38380358, PMCID: PMC10876869, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1336441.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage IIIA melanomaHigh-volume centersRisk-adjusted survivalLow-volume centersImmunotherapy utilizationAdjuvant immunotherapyStage IIIATreatment of stage III melanomaAcademic centersMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regressionStage III melanomaNational Cancer DatabaseStage III diseaseFactors associated with receiptCox proportional hazards regressionCompare patient outcomesProportional hazards regressionIII melanomaImmunotherapy receiptReceiving immunotherapyIII diseaseImmunotherapy agentsOverall survivalSurvival benefitAdjuvant treatment
2022
Maximizing the value of phase III trials in immuno-oncology: A checklist from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
Atkins MB, Abu-Sbeih H, Ascierto PA, Bishop MR, Chen DS, Dhodapkar M, Emens LA, Ernstoff MS, Ferris RL, Greten TF, Gulley JL, Herbst RS, Humphrey RW, Larkin J, Margolin KA, Mazzarella L, Ramalingam SS, Regan MM, Rini BI, Sznol M. Maximizing the value of phase III trials in immuno-oncology: A checklist from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2022, 10: e005413. PMID: 36175037, PMCID: PMC9528604, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005413.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhase III trialsImmunotherapy of cancerIII trialsCurative responseImmune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapyCell death protein 1Checkpoint inhibitor monotherapyDefinitive predictive biomarkersDurable clinical benefitProgression-free survivalMinority of patientsDeath protein 1Variety of indicationsClinical trial designAnimal tumor modelsLimited Phase IDrug development programsImmunotherapy combinationsInvestigational chemotherapyImmunotherapy fieldInhibitor monotherapyOverall survivalDismal prognosisClinical benefitSurvival outcomesBempegaldesleukin plus Nivolumab in First-line Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Results from PIVOT-02
Siefker-Radtke AO, Cho DC, Diab A, Sznol M, Bilen MA, Balar AV, Grignani G, Puente E, Tang L, Chien D, Hoch U, Choudhury A, Yu D, Currie SL, Tagliaferri MA, Zalevsky J, Hurwitz ME, Tannir NM. Bempegaldesleukin plus Nivolumab in First-line Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Results from PIVOT-02. European Urology 2022, 82: 365-373. PMID: 35643589, DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.05.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreatment-related adverse eventsMetastatic urothelial carcinomaObjective response rateProgression-free survivalExploratory biomarker analysisOverall survivalUrothelial carcinomaGrade 3/4 treatment-related adverse eventsResponse rateMedian progression-free survivalTreatment-related side effectsCisplatin-ineligible patientsMedian overall survivalPhase 1/2 studyComplete response rateFirst-line treatmentSubset of patientsChemotherapy-free treatmentTumor response assessmentSingle-arm designUnivariate logistic regressionBiomarker analysisMeasurable diseaseMedian durationTreatment landscapeBempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in first-line renal cell carcinoma: results from the PIVOT-02 study
Tannir NM, Cho DC, Diab A, Sznol M, Bilen MA, Balar AV, Grignani G, Puente E, Tang L, Chien D, Hoch U, Choudhury A, Yu D, Currie SL, Tagliaferri MA, Zalevsky J, Siefker-Radtke AO, Hurwitz ME. Bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in first-line renal cell carcinoma: results from the PIVOT-02 study. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2022, 10: e004419. PMID: 35444058, PMCID: PMC9021810, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004419.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreatment-related adverse eventsRenal cell carcinomaProgression-free survivalAdvanced clear cell renal cell carcinomaClear cell renal cell carcinomaFirst-line therapyOverall survivalCell carcinomaGrade 3/4 treatment-related adverse eventsSingle-arm phase 1/2 studyMedian progression-free survivalMedian overall survivalObjective response ratePhase 1/2 studyCent of patientsPreliminary antitumor activitySingle-arm designAdverse eventsComplete responseBaseline biomarkersTreatment optionsExploratory biomarkersRCC cohortBempegaldesleukinNivolumab
2021
Bempegaldesleukin Plus Nivolumab in First-Line Metastatic Melanoma
Diab A, Tykodi SS, Daniels GA, Maio M, Curti BD, Lewis KD, Jang S, Kalinka E, Puzanov I, Spira AI, Cho DC, Guan S, Puente E, Nguyen T, Hoch U, Currie SL, Lin W, Tagliaferri MA, Zalevsky J, Sznol M, Hurwitz ME. Bempegaldesleukin Plus Nivolumab in First-Line Metastatic Melanoma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2021, 39: 2914-2925. PMID: 34255535, PMCID: PMC8425826, DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.00675.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalImmune-mediated adverse eventsMedian progression-free survivalObjective response rateMetastatic melanomaOverall survivalResponse rateAdverse eventsTarget lesionsGrade 3Stage III/IV melanomaEnd pointPhase II cohortComplete response rateMedian overall survivalPrimary end pointRadiologic evidenceUntreated patientsDurable responsesPolyfunctional responsesOS ratesBlood biomarkersComplete clearanceMedian changeExploratory biomarkersOutcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients With Brain Metastases
Uezono H, Nam D, Kluger HM, Sznol M, Hurwitz M, Yu JB, Chiang VL. Outcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients With Brain Metastases. American Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2021, 44: 495-501. PMID: 34432667, DOI: 10.1097/coc.0000000000000849.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsRCC brain metastasesBrain metastasesRenal cell carcinomaStereotactic radiosurgeryOverall survivalUse of ICIsCentral nervous system toxicityRenal cell carcinoma patientsImpact of immunotherapyLocal control outcomesMedian overall survivalCell carcinoma patientsKaplan-Meier curvesNervous system toxicityBetter median OSLog-rank testMann-Whitney U testMargin doseMedian OSNonimmunotherapy groupSRS doseCheckpoint inhibitorsImmunotherapy groupCarcinoma patients
2020
Bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in untreated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma: Phase III PIVOT IO 001 study design
Khushalani NI, Diab A, Ascierto PA, Larkin J, Sandhu S, Sznol M, Koon HB, Jarkowski A, Zhou M, Statkevich P, Geese WJ, Long GV. Bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in untreated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma: Phase III PIVOT IO 001 study design. Future Oncology 2020, 16: 2165-2175. PMID: 32723187, DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0351.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic melanomaKey secondary end pointEnd pointSafety/tolerabilityObjective response ratePD-1 inhibitorsPrimary end pointSecondary end pointsFirst-line therapyProgression-free survivalNatural killer cellsOverall survivalSurvival benefitAdvanced melanomaKiller cellsClinical trialsEffector TClinical activityNivolumabBempegaldesleukinResponse rateMelanomaPathway agonistStudy designPhase IIISurvival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma
Klemen ND, Wang M, Rubinstein JC, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Cha C, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M. Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2020, 8: e000341. PMID: 32209601, PMCID: PMC7103823, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000341.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCheckpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalMetastatic melanomaPrimary tumorLocal therapyCutaneous melanomaAnti-PD-1 antibodyAggressive multidisciplinary approachCutaneous primary tumorPrimary tumor histologyMedian overall survivalSingle institutional experienceRare melanoma subtypeMedian OSMetastatic diseaseProgressive diseaseAcral skinComplete responsePD-1PD-L1Uveal tractTumor histologyCombination therapyCTLA-4Longer survival
2019
Five-Year Survival and Correlates Among Patients With Advanced Melanoma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, or Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Nivolumab
Topalian SL, Hodi FS, Brahmer JR, Gettinger SN, Smith DC, McDermott DF, Powderly JD, Sosman JA, Atkins MB, Leming PD, Spigel DR, Antonia SJ, Drilon A, Wolchok JD, Carvajal RD, McHenry MB, Hosein F, Harbison CT, Grosso JF, Sznol M. Five-Year Survival and Correlates Among Patients With Advanced Melanoma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, or Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Nivolumab. JAMA Oncology 2019, 5: 1411-1420. PMID: 31343665, PMCID: PMC6659167, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.2187.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-small cell lung cancerRenal cell carcinomaLong-term survivalTreatment-related AEsOverall survivalCell lung cancerAdvanced melanomaCell carcinomaLung cancerEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance statusFuture clinical trial developmentLong-term overall survivalActivity of nivolumabSubsequent protocol amendmentUnacceptable toxic effectsFive-year survivalOverall survival curvesPresence of liverCell death 1Clinical trial developmentUS medical centersNivolumab treatmentPerformance statusProgressive diseaseBone metastasesImmunotherapy of Melanoma: Facts and Hopes
Weiss SA, Wolchok JD, Sznol M. Immunotherapy of Melanoma: Facts and Hopes. Clinical Cancer Research 2019, 25: 5191-5201. PMID: 30923036, PMCID: PMC6726509, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1550.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall survivalMetastatic diseaseImmune therapyPredictive biomarkersNivolumab/ipilimumab combinationRandomized phase III trialLong-term clinical benefitImmunobiology of tumorsDuration of therapyPhase III trialsLong-term survivorsEffective immune therapyAdjuvant settingIpilimumab combinationMetastatic settingIII trialsPatient subsetsClinical benefitImmune modulationMetastatic melanomaClinical trialsSingle agentTherapyTrue increaseCell therapy
2018
Evaluation of classical clinical endpoints as surrogates for overall survival in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Kaufman HL, Schwartz LH, William WN, Sznol M, Fahrbach K, Xu Y, Masson E, Vergara-Silva A. Evaluation of classical clinical endpoints as surrogates for overall survival in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal Of Cancer Research And Clinical Oncology 2018, 144: 2245-2261. PMID: 30132118, DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2738-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint blockersOS hazard ratioPFS hazard ratioHazard ratioOverall survivalPFS ratesOS ratesCheckpoint blockersPooled analysisClinical endpointsSolid tumor patientsChemotherapy armTreatment armsOdds ratioTumor patientsPredictive valueChemotherapySystematic reviewImperfect surrogatePatientsEndpointBlockersCongress proceedingsSurvivalArmA Serum Protein Signature Associated with Outcome after Anti–PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma
Weber JS, Sznol M, Sullivan RJ, Blackmon S, Boland G, Kluger HM, Halaban R, Bacchiocchi A, Ascierto PA, Capone M, Oliveira C, Meyer K, Grigorieva J, Asmellash SG, Roder J, Roder H. A Serum Protein Signature Associated with Outcome after Anti–PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma. Cancer Immunology Research 2018, 6: 79-86. PMID: 29208646, DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0412.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute phase reactantsCheckpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalPhase reactantsIpilimumab-treated patientsPD-1 blockadeTrials of nivolumabBetter overall survivalIndependent patient cohortsPretreatment serumPD-1Melanoma patientsValidation cohortMetastatic melanomaMultipeptide vaccinePatient cohortPooled analysisWorse outcomesClinical dataPatientsMultivariate analysisComplement cascadeMass spectrometry analysisNivolumabCohort
2017
Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Advanced Melanoma: Updated Survival, Response, and Safety Data in a Phase I Dose-Escalation Study
Callahan MK, Kluger H, Postow MA, Segal NH, Lesokhin A, Atkins MB, Kirkwood JM, Krishnan S, Bhore R, Horak C, Wolchok JD, Sznol M. Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Advanced Melanoma: Updated Survival, Response, and Safety Data in a Phase I Dose-Escalation Study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 36: jco.2017.72.285. PMID: 29040030, PMCID: PMC5946731, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.72.2850.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhase I dose-escalation studyTreatment-related adverse eventsI dose-escalation studyDose-escalation studyAdvanced melanomaOverall survivalAdverse eventsOS ratesClinical activityGrade 3Common grade 3Doses of nivolumabDurable clinical activityModified WHO criteriaNivolumab Plus IpilimumabTreatment-related deathsUntreated advanced melanomaImmune checkpoint inhibitorsMedian overall survivalObjective response rateLong-term followSubsequent clinical developmentConcurrent nivolumabCheckpoint inhibitorsExpansion cohortLong-Term Outcomes in Patients With BRAF V600–Mutant Metastatic Melanoma Who Received Dabrafenib Combined With Trametinib
Long GV, Eroglu Z, Infante J, Patel S, Daud A, Johnson DB, Gonzalez R, Kefford R, Hamid O, Schuchter L, Cebon J, Sharfman W, McWilliams R, Sznol M, Redhu S, Gasal E, Mookerjee B, Weber J, Flaherty KT. Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With BRAF V600–Mutant Metastatic Melanoma Who Received Dabrafenib Combined With Trametinib. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 36: jco.2017.74.102. PMID: 28991513, PMCID: PMC10466457, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.74.1025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBRAF V600-mutant metastatic melanomaProgression-free survivalNormal lactate dehydrogenaseMetastatic melanomaD monotherapyCombination therapyMEK inhibitor combination therapyInhibitor-naive patientsLong-term OSTrametinib combination therapyNew safety signalsBRAF inhibitor dabrafenibInhibitor combination therapyLactate dehydrogenaseIncreased OSC. PatientsOverall survivalComplete responseAdditional patientsTerm outcomesSafety signalsLandmark analysisSafety outcomesOrgan sitesPatientsChanges in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels reflect and predict response to anti-PD-1 treatment in melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer patients
Sanmamed MF, Perez-Gracia JL, Schalper KA, Fusco JP, Gonzalez A, Rodriguez-Ruiz ME, Oñate C, Perez G, Alfaro C, Martín-Algarra S, Andueza MP, Gurpide A, Morgado M, Wang J, Bacchiocchi A, Halaban R, Kluger H, Chen L, Sznol M, Melero I. Changes in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels reflect and predict response to anti-PD-1 treatment in melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Annals Of Oncology 2017, 28: 1988-1995. PMID: 28595336, PMCID: PMC5834104, DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSerum IL-8 levelsIL-8 levelsCell lung cancer patientsLung cancer patientsNSCLC patientsCancer patientsMelanoma patientsPD1/PD-L1 therapyAnti-PD-1 treatmentAnti-PD-1 blockadeSerum interleukin-8 levelsPD-L1 therapyImmune checkpoint blockadeInterleukin-8 levelsLonger overall survivalBiomarkers of responseMann-Whitney testCheckpoint blockadeFirst doseOverall survivalStrength of associationClinical benefitReceiver operation characteristic curveMetastatic melanomaSurrogate biomarker
2016
Immunomodulatory Activity of Nivolumab in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Choueiri TK, Fishman MN, Escudier B, McDermott DF, Drake CG, Kluger H, Stadler WM, Perez-Gracia JL, McNeel DG, Curti B, Harrison MR, Plimack ER, Appleman L, Fong L, Albiges L, Cohen L, Young TC, Chasalow SD, Ross-Macdonald P, Srivastava S, Jure-Kunkel M, Kurland JF, Simon JS, Sznol M. Immunomodulatory Activity of Nivolumab in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2016, 22: 5461-5471. PMID: 27169994, PMCID: PMC5106340, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-2839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic renal cell carcinomaTreatment-naïve patientsPD-L1 expressionTumor-associated lymphocytesTreatment biopsiesOverall survivalAnti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitorImmune checkpoint inhibitorsMedian overall survivalNew safety signalsPD-1 inhibitionPhase 3 trialMedian percent changeRenal cell carcinomaUpregulation of IFNγTumor gene expressionNivolumab dosesSerum chemokinesCheckpoint inhibitorsChemokine levelsBaseline biopsiesCell carcinomaImmunomodulatory effectsPeripheral bloodClinical activity
2015
Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites
Kluger HM, Zito CR, Barr ML, Baine MK, Chiang VL, Sznol M, Rimm DL, Chen L, Jilaveanu LB. Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites. Clinical Cancer Research 2015, 21: 3052-3060. PMID: 25788491, PMCID: PMC4490112, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-3073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionT-cell contentPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsHigher T-cell contentT-cell infiltratesPD-L1 inhibitorsAnatomic sitesBrain metastasesMetastatic melanomaTissue microarrayHigh PD-L1 expressionLess PD-L1 expressionLow PD-L1 expressionTumor PD-L1 expressionHigher TIL contentImproved overall survivalT cell infiltrationLess T cellsMetastatic melanoma samplesExtracerebral metastasesCerebral metastasesOverall survivalDermal metastasesImproved survivalPD-L1Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab or Monotherapy in Untreated Melanoma
Larkin J, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Grob JJ, Cowey CL, Lao CD, Schadendorf D, Dummer R, Smylie M, Rutkowski P, Ferrucci PF, Hill A, Wagstaff J, Carlino MS, Haanen JB, Maio M, Marquez-Rodas I, McArthur GA, Ascierto PA, Long GV, Callahan MK, Postow MA, Grossmann K, Sznol M, Dreno B, Bastholt L, Yang A, Rollin LM, Horak C, Hodi FS, Wolchok JD. Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab or Monotherapy in Untreated Melanoma. New England Journal Of Medicine 2015, 373: 23-34. PMID: 26027431, PMCID: PMC5698905, DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1504030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalMedian progression-free survivalIpilimumab groupMetastatic melanomaNivolumab groupUntreated patientsPD-L1Negative tumorsTreatment-related adverse eventsLonger progression-free survivalUnresectable stage IIICoprimary end pointsCTLA-4 blockadePhase 3 studyPD-1 ligandsCombined NivolumabAdverse eventsOverall survivalPD-1Combination therapyUntreated melanomaIpilimumabNivolumabGrade 3Stage IIIOverall Survival and Long-Term Safety of Nivolumab (Anti–Programmed Death 1 Antibody, BMS-936558, ONO-4538) in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Gettinger SN, Horn L, Gandhi L, Spigel DR, Antonia SJ, Rizvi NA, Powderly JD, Heist RS, Carvajal RD, Jackman DM, Sequist LV, Smith DC, Leming P, Carbone DP, Pinder-Schenck MC, Topalian SL, Hodi FS, Sosman JA, Sznol M, McDermott DF, Pardoll DM, Sankar V, Ahlers CM, Salvati M, Wigginton JM, Hellmann MD, Kollia GD, Gupta AK, Brahmer JR. Overall Survival and Long-Term Safety of Nivolumab (Anti–Programmed Death 1 Antibody, BMS-936558, ONO-4538) in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2015, 33: 2004-2012. PMID: 25897158, PMCID: PMC4672027, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2014.58.3708.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall survivalLong-term safetyAdvanced NSCLCLung cancerDeath-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor antibodyAdvanced non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancerImmune checkpoint inhibitor antibodyTreatment-related adverse eventsCheckpoint inhibitor antibodyTreatment-related deathsMedian overall survivalMedian response durationAdvanced solid tumorsPhase I trialCell lung cancerRandomized clinical trialsFurther clinical developmentHuman immunoglobulin G4Nivolumab 1Nivolumab monotherapyExpansion cohortLast doseNonsquamous NSCLCAdverse events