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Adding the PD-1 antibody sintilimab to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced, non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer raised three-year event-free survival from 76 to 86 percent, with more but manageable side effects.
Multicentre open-label randomised phase 3 trial at nine hospitals in China: 425 adults with high-risk stage III to IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomised to gemcitabine-cisplatin induction and concurrent cisplatin radiotherapy with (210) or without (215) 12 cycles of sintilimab.
At a median follow-up of 41.9 months, three-year event-free survival was 86 percent with sintilimab against 76 percent without (stratified hazard ratio 0.59, p 0.019). Grade 3 to 4 adverse events occurred in 74 against 65 percent; grade 3 to 4 immune-related adverse events in 10 percent of the sintilimab group, with two immune-related deaths.
PD-1 blockade added to chemoradiotherapy is a new option for high-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma; longer follow-up will show whether it lengthens survival.
Shares Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage III to IVA), Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Shares Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage III to IVA), Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Shares Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage III to IVA), Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Shares CONTINUUM, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.