Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pembrolizumab (pembro) vs chemotherapy (chemo) for previously treated advanced urothelial cancer (UC) in KEYNOTE-045.

Abstract

4530Background: In KEYNOTE-045 (NCT02256436) (N = 542), pembro 200 mg Q3W significantly improved OS over investigator’s choice of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine as second-line therapy for advanced UC following platinum-based chemo (HR 0.73; P = 0.0022). Fewer treatment-related AEs were reported with pembro. We present results of the prespecified HRQoL analysis of KEYNOTE-045. Methods: The EORTC QLQ-C30 HRQoL instrument was administered electronically at cycles 1–4, then every 2 cycles for up to 1 y and 30 d after discontinuation. The key HRQoL end points were 1) change from baseline to wk 15 and 2) time to deterioration (TTD) (defined as ≥10-point decrease from baseline) in the QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL score. HRQoL was assessed in patients (pts) who received ≥1 dose of assigned study treatment and completed ≥1 HRQoL instrument (N = 520). Score change from baseline was compared using a constrained longitudinal data analysis model. TTD was compared using a stratified log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Baseline global health status/QoL scores were similar between arms. HRQoL compliance at wk 15 was 88% for both arms. From baseline to wk 15, scores were stable for pembro (n = 266) (least squares [LS] mean +0.75 [95% CI –2.34 to +3.83]) but worsened for chemo (n = 254) (LS mean –8.30 [95% CI –11.76 to –4.83]); the difference in LS means between arms was 9.05 (95% CI 4.61-13.48; nominal 2-sided P < 0.001). At wk 15, pts without PD had improved scores with pembro but worsened scores with chemo (LS mean +5.97 vs –4.31), while pts with PD had less worsening with pembro (LS mean –3.54 vs –13.95). TTD was prolonged with pembro (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.55-0.90; nominal 1-sided P = 0.002; median 3.5 mo vs 2.2 mo). Rates of improvement (defined as ≥10-point increase from baseline) at wk 15 were 31.2% with pembro and 22.0% with chemo; rates of deterioration were 28.9% and 40.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Pembro was associated with substantially better HRQoL for a longer duration than investigator-choice chemo in pts with previously treated advanced UC. Along with superior OS, these data support pembro as a new standard-of-care in this population. Clinical trial information: NCT02256436.