Phase 3 CLEAR study in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: outcomes in subgroups for the lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab and sunitinib arms

IntroductionThe phase 3 CLEAR study demonstrated that lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab significantly improved efficacy versus sunitinib as first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Prognostic features including presence and/or site of baseline metastases, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid features have been associated with disease and treatment success. This subsequent analysis explores outcomes in patients with or without specific prognostic features.MethodsIn CLEAR, patients with clear cell RCC were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive either lenvatinib (20 mg/day) plus pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks), lenvatinib (18 mg/day) plus everolimus (5 mg/day), or sunitinib alone (50 mg/day, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). In this report, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were all assessed in the lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab and the sunitinib arms, based on baseline features: lung metastases, bone metastases, liver metastases, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid histology.ResultsIn all the assessed subgroups, median PFS was longer with lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab than with sunitinib treatment, notably among patients with baseline bone metastases (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21–0.52) and patients with sarcomatoid features (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18–0.84). Median OS favored lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab over sunitinib irrespective of metastatic lesions at baseline, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid features. Of interest, among patients with baseline bone metastases the HR for survival was 0.50 (95% CI 0.30–0.83) and among patients with sarcomatoid features the HR for survival was 0.91 (95% CI 0.32–2.58); though for many groups, median OS was not reached. ORR also favored lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab over sunitinib across all subgroups; similarly, complete responses also followed this pattern.ConclusionEfficacy outcomes improved following treatment with lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab versus sunitinib in patients with RCC—irrespective of the presence or absence of baseline lung metastases, baseline bone metastases, baseline liver metastases, prior nephrectomy, or sarcomatoid features. These findings corroborate those of the primary CLEAR study analysis in the overall population and support lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as a standard of care in 1L treatment for patients with advanced RCC.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT0281186

Health-related quality-of-life outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab or everolimus versus sunitinib (CLEAR): a randomised, phase 3 study

Background: Results from the phase 3 CLEAR study showed that lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared with sunitinib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. We aimed to assess the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes from the CLEAR study. Methods: This open-label, randomised, phase 3 study was done across 200 hospitals and cancer centres in 20 countries. Patients were required to be 18 years or older, with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, and a Karnofsky performance status of 70% or higher. Patients who had received previous systemic anticancer therapy for renal cell carcinoma were not eligible. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to lenvatinib (oral 20 mg per day) plus pembrolizumab (intravenous 200 mg every 21 days), lenvatinib (oral 18 mg per day) plus everolimus (oral 5 mg per day) in 21-day cycles, or sunitinib (oral 50 mg per day, 4 weeks on followed by 2 weeks off). Patients were assigned to treatments with a computer-generated randomisation scheme and were stratified by geographical region and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center prognostic groups. The primary endpoint, previously reported, was progression-free survival, and HRQOL was a secondary endpoint. Most HRQOL analyses were done in patients who underwent randomisation, received at least one dose of study treatment, and had any HRQOL data. Completion and compliance analyses were done in the full analysis set. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-Disease-Related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS), European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the EQ-5D-3 Level (EQ-5D-3L) preference questionnaire were administered at baseline and on day 1 of each subsequent 21-day cycle. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02811861, and is closed to new participants. Findings: Between Oct 13, 2016, and July 24, 2019, 355 patients were randomly assigned to the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group, 357 to the lenvatinib plus everolimus group, and 357 to the sunitinib group. Median follow-up for HRQOL analyses was 12·9 months (IQR 5·6–22·3). Because of the promising efficacy and safety results of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in the first-line setting, we focus the HRQOL results in this report on that combination versus sunitinib. Mean change from baseline in the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group compared with the sunitinib group was –1·75 (SE 0·59) versus –2·19 (0·66) for FKSI-DRS, –5·93 (0·86) versus –6·73 (0·94) for EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/quality of life (GHS/QOL), and –4·96 (0·85) versus –6·64 (0·94) for the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (VAS). Median time to first deterioration in the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group compared with the sunitinib group was 9·14 weeks (95% CI 6·43–12·14) versus 12·14 weeks (9·14–15·29; HR 1·13 [95% CI 0·94–1·35], log-rank p=0·20) for FKSI-DRS, 12·00 weeks (7·29–15·14) versus 9·14 weeks (6·29–12·14; 0·88 [0·74–1·05], log-rank p=0·17) for EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QOL, and 9·43 weeks (6·43–12·29) versus 9·14 weeks (6·29–12·00; 0·83 [0·70–0·99], log-rank p=0·041) for the EQ-5D VAS. Median time to definitive deterioration in the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group compared with the sunitinib group was 134·14 weeks (95% CI 120·00–not estimable) versus 117·43 weeks (90·14–131·29; HR 0·70 [95% CI 0·53–0·92], log-rank p=0·0081) for FKSI-DRS, 114·29 weeks (102·14–153·29) versus 75·14 weeks (57·29–105·14; 0·60 [0·47–0·77], log-rank p<0·0001) for EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QOL, and 124·86 weeks (94·71–134·57) versus 74·86 weeks (54·14–96·00; 0·67 [0·53–0·85], log-rank p=0·0012) for the EQ-5D VAS. No outcomes on any of the instruments significantly favoured sunitinib over lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab. Most HRQOL comparisons of lenvatinib plus everolimus versus sunitinib were similar or favoured sunitinib. Interpretation: These HRQOL results demonstrate that patients given lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab treatment had similar or favourable scores compared with patients given sunitinib, particularly with respect to time to definitive deterioration. These results support the efficacy and safety profile of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as first-line therapy for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Funding: Eisai (Nutley, NJ, USA) and Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck &amp; Co (Kenilworth, NJ, USA).</p

Final prespecified overall survival (OS) analysis of CLEAR: 4-year follow-up of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (L+P) vs sunitinib (S) in patients (pts) with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC)

4502 Background: In the phase 3 CLEAR trial, L+P showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant benefits in PFS (primary endpoint) and OS, and improved ORR compared with S in 1L aRCC (Motzer NEJM 2021). Here, we report 4-yr follow-up results from the final prespecified OS analysis of CLEAR (data cutoff: 31 Jul 2022). Methods: Treatment-naïve pts (n=1069) who had aRCC with a clear-cell component were randomized (1:1:1) to receive: L 20 mg PO QD + P 200 mg IV Q3W; or L 18 mg + everolimus 5 mg PO QD; or S 50 mg PO QD (4 wks on/2 wks off). Stratification factors were geographic region and MSKCC prognostic risk group. This final prespecified OS analysis was triggered by ~304 death events in 2 arms. OS, PFS, ORR, duration of response (DOR), and PFS on next-line therapy (PFS2) were assessed for L+P and S. PFS, ORR and DOR were assessed per independent review using RECIST v1.1. Nominal P-values are shown. Results: At a median follow-up (IQR) of 49.8 mos (41.4–53.1) for L+P and 49.4 mos (41.6–52.8) for S, 149 and 159 deaths had occurred, respectively. OS benefit with L+P vs S was maintained (HR, 95% CI; 0.79, 0.63–0.99). OS favored L+P vs S across MSKCC risk groups (HR, 95% CI; favorable [fav]: 0.89, 0.53–1.50; intermediate [int]: 0.81, 0.62–1.06; poor: 0.59, 0.31–1.12). PFS benefit of L+P vs S was maintained (HR, 95% CI; 0.47, 0.38–0.57). PFS favored L+P vs S across MSKCC risk groups (HR, 95% CI; fav: 0.46, 0.32–0.67; int: 0.51, 0.40–0.65; poor: 0.18, 0.08–0.42). ORR was greater with L+P (71.3%; complete response [CR], 18.3%) vs S (36.7%; CR, 4.8%) (relative risk, 95% CI; 1.94, 1.67–2.26). Less pts in the L+P arm (181/355, 51.0%) received subsequent anticancer therapies compared with the S arm (246/357, 68.9%); 56 (15.8%) and 195 (54.6%) received PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, respectively. Analysis of OS adjusted for subsequent therapies will be presented. PFS2 was longer with L+P vs S (43.3 vs 25.9 mos; HR, 95% CI; 0.63, 0.51–0.77). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 74.1% and 60.3% pts in the L+P and S arms, respectively. Conclusions: L+P continues to demonstrate clinically meaningful benefit vs S in OS, PFS, ORR, and CR in the 1L treatment of pts with aRCC at 4-yr follow-up, thus supporting the robustness of the primary analysis data from CLEAR. Clinical trial information: NCT02811861 .[Table: see text

Table_1_Phase 3 CLEAR study in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: outcomes in subgroups for the lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab and sunitinib arms.docx

IntroductionThe phase 3 CLEAR study demonstrated that lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab significantly improved efficacy versus sunitinib as first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Prognostic features including presence and/or site of baseline metastases, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid features have been associated with disease and treatment success. This subsequent analysis explores outcomes in patients with or without specific prognostic features.MethodsIn CLEAR, patients with clear cell RCC were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive either lenvatinib (20 mg/day) plus pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks), lenvatinib (18 mg/day) plus everolimus (5 mg/day), or sunitinib alone (50 mg/day, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). In this report, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were all assessed in the lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab and the sunitinib arms, based on baseline features: lung metastases, bone metastases, liver metastases, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid histology.ResultsIn all the assessed subgroups, median PFS was longer with lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab than with sunitinib treatment, notably among patients with baseline bone metastases (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21–0.52) and patients with sarcomatoid features (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18–0.84). Median OS favored lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab over sunitinib irrespective of metastatic lesions at baseline, prior nephrectomy, and sarcomatoid features. Of interest, among patients with baseline bone metastases the HR for survival was 0.50 (95% CI 0.30–0.83) and among patients with sarcomatoid features the HR for survival was 0.91 (95% CI 0.32–2.58); though for many groups, median OS was not reached. ORR also favored lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab over sunitinib across all subgroups; similarly, complete responses also followed this pattern.ConclusionEfficacy outcomes improved following treatment with lenvatinib-plus-pembrolizumab versus sunitinib in patients with RCC—irrespective of the presence or absence of baseline lung metastases, baseline bone metastases, baseline liver metastases, prior nephrectomy, or sarcomatoid features. These findings corroborate those of the primary CLEAR study analysis in the overall population and support lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as a standard of care in 1L treatment for patients with advanced RCC.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02811861</p

Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab Versus Sunitinib in First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Final Prespecified Overall Survival Analysis of CLEAR, a Phase III Study

JCO We present the final prespecified overall survival (OS) analysis of the open-label, phase III CLEAR study in treatment-naïve patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). With an additional follow-up of 23 months from the primary analysis, we report results from the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus sunitinib comparison of CLEAR. Treatment-naïve patients with aRCC were randomly assigned to receive lenvatinib (20 mg orally once daily in 21-day cycles) plus pembrolizumab (200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks) or sunitinib (50 mg orally once daily [4 weeks on/2 weeks off]). At this data cutoff date (July 31, 2022), the OS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.99). The median OS (95% CI) was 53.7 months (95% CI, 48.7 to not estimable [NE]) with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus 54.3 months (95% CI, 40.9 to NE) with sunitinib; 36-month OS rates (95% CI) were 66.4% (95% CI, 61.1 to 71.2) and 60.2% (95% CI, 54.6 to 65.2), respectively. The median progression-free survival (95% CI) was 23.9 months (95% CI, 20.8 to 27.7) with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab and 9.2 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 11.0) with sunitinib (HR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.38 to 0.57]). Objective response rate also favored the combination over sunitinib (71.3% 36.7%; relative risk 1.94 [95% CI, 1.67 to 2.26]). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in >90% of patients who received either treatment. In conclusion, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab achieved consistent, durable benefit with a manageable safety profile in treatment-naïve patients with aRCC