Dr. Schwartz on ​the Results of the Alliance A091401 Study in Metastatic Sarcoma

Gary K. Schwartz, MD, professor of medicine, chief, Division of Hematology​/Oncology, ​deputy director, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, discusses results of the Alliance A091401 trial (NCT02500797) in patients with metastatic sarcoma.

Findings from the phase 2 study suggested that the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) is superior when compared with nivolumab alone in this patient population, says Schwartz. ​Notably, at least 2 responses were confirmed with the combination in patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma. No responses were seen with nivolumab alone or the combination in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

The objective response rates were 5% and 16% in the nivolumab (n = 38) and nivolumab/ipilimumab arms (n = 38), respectively. Additionally, trends toward improved overall survival and progression-free survival were ​observed with the combination, Schwartz concludes.