Phase II Multicentric Study of Pembrolizumab in Classic or Endemic Kaposi's Sarcoma

Summary

Classic and endemic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) are lymphangio-proliferations associated with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), which treatment is poorly codified. Chemotherapies give at best 30-60% of transient responses. While interferon responses are frequent, this drug is often poorly tolerated in elderly patients. Therefore new therapies are needed. Classic KS represents an ideal model for evaluating new drugs since patients do not receive concomitant immunosuppressive regimens nor antiviral therapies. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody has recently been shown to improve survival in several solid tumors. In KS few data are available on the role of PD1-PD-L1 axis. A significant PD-L1 expression on HHV8-associated pleural effusion lymphomas and on KS samples have been recently reported. Our experience in classical and endemic KS supports the role of this pathway with expression of PD-L1 by subpopulations of T cells but also NK cells in peripheral blood cells from these patients and expression of PD-L1 by tumor cells in KS lesions. In this study we will evaluate the benefit and safety profile of pembrolizumab in classic and endemic KS.

Timeline

Start

2018-07-01

Primary completion

2020-03-20

Completion

2020-09-20

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper with a best overall response rate of 71% (95% CI 44-90), meeting the predefined primary outcome (ie, exceeding a response rate of 30%). PMID 35279271 ↗

Publications

• Delyon J, Biard L, Renaud M, Resche-Rigon M, Le Goff J, Dalle S, Heidelberger V, Da Meda L, Toullec L, Carcelain G, Mourah S, Caillat-Zucman S, Allain V, Battistella M, Lebbe C. PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab in classic or endemic Kaposi's sarcoma: a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Apr;23(4):491-500. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(22)00097-3. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Drugs

Indications