Atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and platinum chemotherapy in cervical cancer: results of Japanese population from BEATcc

Abstract

Objective: This study analyzed the efficacy of add-on atezolizumab to standard first-line bevacizumab-containing therapy in 56 Japanese patients with metastatic and recurrent cervical cancer treated across 8 sites under the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group between October 2018 and August 2021 in the BEATcc trial.

Methods: Patients were randomized to standard arm (standard therapy: cisplatin 50 mg/m² or carboplatin area under the curve of 5, paclitaxel 175 mg/m², and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg) or experimental arm (standard therapy with atezolizumab 1,200 mg).

Results: Of 56 patients, 30 were in experimental arm vs. 26, standard arm (age: 53.2±12.9 vs. 54.7±12.2 years). Median progression-free survival was 15.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]=10.4-26.1) in experimental arm vs. 11.1 months (8.4-16.5) in standard arm (hazard ratio [HR]=0.51; 95% CI=0.26-1.01). Median overall survival was 34.1 months (23.2-38.6) in the experimental arm vs. 31.6 months (16.4-36.5), standard arm (HR=0.53; 95% CI=0.23-1.21). Objective response rate was 86.7% in experimental arm vs. 84.6%, standard arm. Complete response and partial response, respectively, were 23.3% and 63.3% in experimental arm and 26.9% and 57.7% in standard arm. Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 80.0%, experimental arm and 88.5%, standard arm. Gastrointestinal/genitourinary fistula incidence was lower in Japanese patients (1 patient receiving atezolizumab), likely due to stricter inclusion criteria.

Conclusion: Overall, add-on atezolizumab enhances the efficacy of bevacizumab and chemotherapy in Japanese patients as those in overall BEATcc population and could be considered a new first-line treatment option for metastatic, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer in Japan.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03556839.

Keywords: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Atezolizumab; Bevacizumab; Cervical Cancer; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Japanese Ethnicity.

Fig. 1. Kaplan-Meier estimates. Kaplan–Meier estimates of (A) PFS and (B) OS in the Japanese population.

Atezo, atezolizumab; bev, bevacizumab; CI, confidence interval; CT, chemotherapy; HR, hazard ratio; OS, overall survival; PFS, progression-free survival.

Fig. 2. Treatment response. (A) ORR and (B) Kaplan–Meier estimates of DoR in responding patients in the Japanese population.

Atezo, atezolizumab; bev, bevacizumab; CI, confidence interval; CR, complete response; CT, chemotherapy; DoR, duration of response; ORR, objective response rate; PR, partial response.