Dr. Zalcberg on Updated Results from the Phase 3 INVICTUS Study in Advanced GIST

John Zalcberg, ​PhD, OAM, the Prof & Tony Charlton Chair of Oncology​, head, Cancer Research Program, NHMRC (MRFF) Practitioner Fellow, the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, discusses updated results from the phase 3 INVICTUS trial in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

In the phase 3 INVICTUS study, patients with advanced GIST who received 4 or more prior lines of therapy were randomized 2:1 to receive 150 mg of ripretinib (Qinlock) or placebo. The primary end point of the study was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results presented during the 2020 ESMO Virtual Congress showed ​that PFS was 6.3 month​s with ripretinib versus 1 month with placebo, says Zalcberg. The hazard ratio was 0.16; however, a formal P value was not calculated.

Regarding safety, the adverse effects (AEs) ​observed with ripretinib were similar to other TKIs. Though, there was a higher incidence of alopecia in the ripretinib arm. Overall, the agent was well tolerated, explains Zalcberg.

Notably, throughout the duration of treatment, quality of life was either maintained or improved with ripretinib ​compared with placebo, Zalcberg concludes.