Phase 2 Trial of Atezolizumab in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: SWOG S1605

Abstract

Background: Although radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), many patients are ineligible for surgery or elect bladder preservation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a single-arm phase 2 trial in patients with BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC who were ineligible for or declined RC.

Intervention: Intravenous atezolizumab every 3 wk for 1 yr.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (CR) rate for patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) determined via mandatory biopsy at 6 mo. Event-free survival (EFS) at 18 mo for patients with non-CIS tumors and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were key secondary endpoints.

Results and limitations: Of 172 patients enrolled in the trial, 166 received at least one dose of atezolizumab (safety analysis) and 129 were eligible (efficacy analysis). Of the 74 patients with CIS, 20 (27%) experienced a CR at 6 mo. The median duration of response was 17 mo, and 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34-77%) of the responses were durable to at least 12 mo. The 18-mo actuarial EFS rate among 55 patients with Ta/T1 disease was 49% (90% CI 38-60%). Twelve of 129 eligible patients experienced progression to muscle-invasive or metastatic disease. Grade 3-5 TRAEs occurred in 26 patients (16%), including three treatment-related deaths. The study was limited by the small sample size and a high rate of patient ineligibility.

Conclusions: The efficacy of atezolizumab observed among patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is similar to results from similar trials with other agents, but did not meet the prespecified efficacy threshold. Modest efficacy needs to be balanced with a significant rate of TRAEs and the risk of disease progression when considering systemic immunotherapy in early-stage bladder cancer.

Patient summary: We tested intravenous immunotherapy (atezolizumab) in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that recurred after BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) treatment. Although we found similar outcomes to previous trials, the benefit of this therapy is modest and needs to be carefully balanced with the significant risk of side effects. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02844816.

Keywords: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin–unresponsive; Bladder cancer; Immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Fig. 1 –

Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) diagram. *Two treatment-related deaths occurred in patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) who came off treatment for other reasons. BCG = bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Fig. 2 –

Response and survival estimates. (A) Duration of response after 6-mo biopsy in 20 evaluable patients with CIS ± Ta/T1 who experienced a CR. One patient with CIS experienced a CR but withdrew consent immediately after the 6-mo biopsy, leaving 19 patients for analysis. Eleven patients experienced HGR after a median of 17 mo. The HGR-free survival rates were 90% (95% CI 76–100%) at 6 mo, 56% (95% CI 24–77%) at 12 mo, and 45% (95% CI 23–66%) at 12 mo. (B) Event-free survival in all 55 evaluable patients with Ta/T1 disease without CIS. Thirty-three patients experienced HGR after a median of 15 mo. The event-free survival rates were 67% (95% CI 54–79%) at 6 mo, 53% (95% CI 40–67%) at 12 mo, and 49% (95% CI 36–63%) at 18 mo. (C) Overall survival for all evaluable patients stratified by the presence (n = 74) or absence (n = 55) of CIS. There were 14 deaths in the group with CIS and 11 deaths in the group without CIS, with 3-yr overall survival rates of 80% and 79%, respectively. CI = confidence interval; CIS = carcinoma in situ; CR = complete response; HGR = high-grade recurrence.

Fig. 2 –

Response and survival estimates. (A) Duration of response after 6-mo biopsy in 20 evaluable patients with CIS ± Ta/T1 who experienced a CR. One patient with CIS experienced a CR but withdrew consent immediately after the 6-mo biopsy, leaving 19 patients for analysis. Eleven patients experienced HGR after a median of 17 mo. The HGR-free survival rates were 90% (95% CI 76–100%) at 6 mo, 56% (95% CI 24–77%) at 12 mo, and 45% (95% CI 23–66%) at 12 mo. (B) Event-free survival in all 55 evaluable patients with Ta/T1 disease without CIS. Thirty-three patients experienced HGR after a median of 15 mo. The event-free survival rates were 67% (95% CI 54–79%) at 6 mo, 53% (95% CI 40–67%) at 12 mo, and 49% (95% CI 36–63%) at 18 mo. (C) Overall survival for all evaluable patients stratified by the presence (n = 74) or absence (n = 55) of CIS. There were 14 deaths in the group with CIS and 11 deaths in the group without CIS, with 3-yr overall survival rates of 80% and 79%, respectively. CI = confidence interval; CIS = carcinoma in situ; CR = complete response; HGR = high-grade recurrence.