Dr. Daver on Results of a Combination Study With Azacitidine/Nivolumab in AML

Naval G. Daver, MD, associate professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of a phase Ib/II study that evaluated the combination of azacitidine and nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

In cohort 1 of 70 evaluable patients with relapsed/refractory disease, the overall response rate was 33% with the combination and 11% of patients experienced stable disease for more than 6 months; this translated to a clinical benefit rate of approximately 40% to 45%, which exceeds that of standard therapies in AML, says Daver.

According to a propensity-matched analysis between the combination and azacitidine alone, the response rates were approximately doubled with the combination compared with azacitidine alone. Additionally, patients in first relapse were found to derive the greatest benefit from the combination versus those who have relapsed multiple times; this was attributed to a greater depletion of T cells in patients who received several prior lines of therapy.