CheckpOiNt Blockade For Inhibition of Relapsed Mesothelioma

Summary

The UK has the highest incidence of mesothelioma. The incidence has risen by 497% since the late 1970's and is increasing worldwide due to continued mining and use of asbestos. For patients with mesothelioma who have relapsed after taking pemetrexed and cisplatin, there is currently no standard treatment, making this an urgent unmet need. Recent trials in this area have not found an effective treatment that improves overall survival. Following a debate in the House of Lords, a national survey assessing the research priorities in mesothelioma found that 'exploiting the potential of immunotherapy' was a top priority. This trial was designed in response to that survey. It uses the immunotherapy agent nivolumab which blocks programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor on activated T-cells (a type of white blood cell forming part of the immune system). Early research has found a dependency of mesothelioma on the PD-1 checkpoint. By attaching to PD-1, nivolumab blocks its action (checkpoint inhibition), preventing it from turning off the T-cell, and therefore allowing the immune system to work. PD-1 checkpoint inhibition has revolutionised the treatment of melanoma and it is hoped to be as effective in mesothelioma. This trial is a randomised, double blind placebo controlled trial of patients with mesothelioma who are second or third relapse following a platinum based chemotherapy treatment.

Timeline

Start

2017-03-28

Primary completion

2023-02-07

Completion

2023-02-07

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper in the nivolumab group versus 6·9 months (5·0-8·0) in the placebo group (adjusted HR 0·69 [95% CI 0·52-0·91]; p=0·0090). PMID 34656227 ↗

Publications

• Results Fennell DA, Kirkpatrick E, Cozens K, Nye M, Lester J, Hanna G, Steele N, Szlosarek P, Danson S, Lord J, Ottensmeier C, Barnes D, Hill S, Kalevras M, Maishman T, Griffiths G. CONFIRM: a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial investigating the effect of nivolumab in patients with relapsed mesothelioma: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2018 Apr 18;19(1):233. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2602-y.
• Fennell DA, Ewings S, Ottensmeier C, Califano R, Hanna GG, Hill K, Danson S, Steele N, Nye M, Johnson L, Lord J, Middleton C, Szlosarek P, Chan S, Gaba A, Darlison L, Wells-Jordan P, Richards C, Poile C, Lester JF, Griffiths G; CONFIRM trial investigators. Nivolumab versus placebo in patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma (CONFIRM): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Nov;22(11):1530-1540. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00471-X. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Drugs

Indications