News Release

Moffitt: Radiation therapy with pembrolizumab, bevacizumab safe for glioma patients

Treatment regimen results in no dose-limiting toxicities and durable disease control

Peer-Reviewed Publication

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

TAMPA, Fla. (June 4, 2016) - Patients with recurrent high-grade glioma brain tumors have few effective treatment options and the majority of available therapies do not improve survival. Moffitt Cancer Center will present preliminary results from a phase 1 study testing whether the addition of pembrolizumab to radiation therapy and bevacizumab is safe and can control tumor growth for these patients. The findings will be discussed Saturday, June 4, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The PD-1-targeting antibody pembrolizumab has shown activity in a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies and is approved to treat non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma. Preclinical studies have shown that stereotactic radiosurgery combined with PD-1-targeting agents increases survival and produces durable responses in mouse models of glioma.

This phase 1 trial is designed to determine the recommended phase 2 dose, safety, tolerability and activity of pembrolizumab combined with hypofractionated stereotactic irradiation (HFSRT) and bevacizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma.

At the time the abstract was submitted, six patients were enrolled. Preliminary results suggest that the treatment regimen is safe, with no dose limiting toxicities or dose modifications observed. The most common treatment-related adverse event was grade 1 fatigue.

Pembrolizumab combined with HFSRT and bevacizumab produced durable disease control for 22 weeks or longer in three patients, with one patient achieving a complete response and two patients maintaining stable disease.

Solmaz Sahebjam, M.D., Director of Clinical Research Unit and assistant member of the Neuro-Oncology Department at Moffitt, will present the study results during the Saturday, June 4, central nervous system tumors poster session at 1 p.m. in Hall A at McCormick Place. Dr. Sahebjam has also been selected as a 2016 Conquer Cancer Foundation Career Development Award recipient.

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About Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. One of the three largest cancer centers in the United States based on patient volume, the Tampa-based facility is one of only 45 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the top-ranked cancer hospital in Florida and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the "Best Hospitals" for cancer care since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2 million square feet to research and patient care. With more than 5,000 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $1.9 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Media Contact at ASCO:

Kim Polacek
813-507-3173
Kim.Polacek@Moffitt.org


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