Gaelle Lescuyer

Intraperitoneal Nivolumab after Debulking Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Phase I Study with Expansion Cohort

Abstract Purpose: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are expected to be synergistic with intraperitoneal (IP) immunotherapy by increasing tumor antigen expression and mutational load. We assessed the feasibility and safety of IP nivolumab following complete CRS and HIPEC in pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03959761). Patients and Methods: Patients received IP nivolumab (0.5, 1, or 3 mg/kg) using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, starting 5 to 7 days after CRS and HIPEC. Four IP Q2W (once every 2 weeks) nivolumab infusions were planned. The primary objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of IP nivolumab based on dose-limiting toxicity. Secondary objectives were to assess changes in tolerance of CRS and HIPEC. Results: A total of 17 patients were enrolled including 10 patients in the dose escalation and 7 patients in the expansion phase. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed at any dose level in the 9 evaluable patients. Six of the 17 patients (35%) did not complete all planned infusions: 4 (23.5%) due to peritoneal catheter complications and 2 (11.8%) due to early progression. No procedure-related deaths occurred. Eleven patients (65%) experienced serious adverse events (SAE), mainly transitory grade 3 to 4 transaminase elevations (6/11) and surgery-related (9/11). Four SAEs were related to the peritoneal catheter and two to HIPEC. No SAEs/grade 3 to 4 adverse events related to IP nivolumab occurred. Conclusions: This is the first study demonstrating the feasibility of IP nivolumab in patients with relapsed advanced ovarian cancer. Further investigation at 3 mg/kg is warranted.

Tolerance of Intraperitoneal (IP) Nivolumab After Extensive Debulking Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma

Spread pattern, the lack of alternative treatments, and emerging data on the activity of anti-Programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) targeted checkpoint inhibitor therapy in gynecological cancers provide the rationale for this investigation. Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) are likely to increase the tumor-antigen expression and the mutational load. As a result, it would be interesting to combine this approach with immunotherapy. Moreover, Intraperitoneal (IP) infusion will directly target the peritoneal cavity and potentially enhance the immune response. Indeed some recent papers indicate that the peritoneum could be considered as a lymphoid organ, involving "milky spots", thus able to produce a better immune response when immunotherapy is given by IP route rather than intravenous (IV) route. The investigating team in Lyon, France is one of the major groups for HIPEC research in Europe (Pr O. Glehen et al) - Reference center for the tumors of the peritoneum (French National Cancer Institute). The aim of this study is to assess in this I/II phase study, the feasibility of extensive debulking surgery and HIPEC followed by Intraperitoneal (IP) nivolumab dose escalation in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.