Two-year follow-up of a randomized phase III clinical trial of nivolumab vs. the investigator's choice of therapy in the Asian population for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CheckMate 141)

Head Neck. 2020 Oct;42(10):2852-2862. doi: 10.1002/hed.26331. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

Background: The present study evaluated the 2-year survival of the Asian population in the CheckMate 141 trial.

Methods: The CheckMate 141 trial included patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In the present study, 34 Asian patients (nivolumab group: 23 patients; investigator's choice of therapy [IC] group: 11 patients) were analyzed.

Results: The median overall survival (OS) was 12.1 and 6.2 months for the nivolumab and IC groups, respectively. The estimated 2-year OS rates were 22.7% and 0% for the nivolumab and IC groups, respectively. In the nivolumab group, the patients with any treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), including skin-related disorders, showed better OS than the patients without any TRAEs.

Conclusions: Nivolumab demonstrated prolonged OS benefits in the Asian population with platinum-refractory R/M SCCHN and a favorable safety profile. TRAEs, including skin-related disorders, may be favorable prognostic factors for nivolumab efficacy.

Clinical trial registration: NCT02105636.

Keywords: Asian population; clinical trial; immunotherapy; nivolumab; squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Nivolumab* / therapeutic use
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / drug therapy

Substances

  • Nivolumab

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02105636