Patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who received combined therapy of tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy experienced longer overall survival compared with those who received chemotherapy alone, regardless of STK11, KEAP1 or KRAS mutational status, according to research from the POSEIDON trial presented at the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer 2022 in Vienna. 

In previously reported results of the phase 3 POSEIDON trial, patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type metastatic NSCLC who were given first-line tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements in both progression-free survival and overall survival versus chemotherapy alone.  

CTLA-4 inhibition supports T-cell expansion; PD-L1 inhibition overcomes T-cell suppression at the tumour; and chemotherapy causes tumour cell death and antigen release, potentially priming the immune response. Mutations in STK11 and KEAP1 correlate with poor prognosis and are associated with chemorefractory and immunologically “cold” tumours that are less responsive to therapy. KRAS mutant NSCLC is heterogenous and frequently co-mutated with STK11 and/or KEAP1. Based on these findings, researchers theorized that the triplet regimen tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy may improve clinical outcomes for hard-to-treat subgroups of patients with metastatic NSCLC.  

Dr. Solange Peters, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne University, Switzerland and colleagues conducted an exploratory analysis of survival outcomes in POSEIDON according to KRAS, STK11 and KEAP1 mutational status. 

Dr. Peters and researchers at study locations randomized 1013 patients (1:1:1) to first-line tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy; durvalumab and chemotherapy; or just chemotherapy, with stratification by tumour cell PD-L1 expression (≥50% vs <50%), disease stage (IVA vs IVB), and histology (squamous vs non-squamous).

Patient tumours were molecularly characterized via sequencing of tumour tissue DNA and/or circulating tumour DNA samples. Progression-free survival and overall survival outcomes were analyzed in patients with (m) or without functional mutations in KRAS, STK11 or KEAP1.  

The mutation-evaluable non-squamous NSCLC population included 612 patients (96% of the intent-to-treat non-squamous population) whose tumours were molecularly characterized; 30%, 14% and 6% had KRASm, STK11m and KEAP1m, respectively.

Overall survival hazard ratios favoured patients in the tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy arm versus chemotherapy, irrespective of KRAS, STK11 or KEAP1 mutational status, consistent with results in the intent-to-treat population.  

“Notably, landmark 24-month overall survival rates were higher with tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy across all subgroups, including those with KRASm, STK11m and KEAP1m, suggesting sustained benefit with the triplet regimen,” Dr. Peters reported.  

“Our analysis supports using combined therapy of tremelimumab, durvalumab and chemotherapy as a potential first-line treatment option for patients with metastatic NSCLC, including those with KRASm, STK11m or KEAP1m tumours,” Dr. Peters reported. 

Source: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer