Durvalumab Plus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis of Real-World Data

Abstract

Background: The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin (gem/cis) with the anti-PD-L1-antibody durvalumab was recently approved as first line therapy for biliary tract cancer (BTC) based on the results of the TOPAZ-1 trial. Objective: We aim to analyse the feasibility and efficacy of the triple combination therapy in patients with BTC in a real-world setting and in correspondence with the genetic alterations of the cancer. Methods: In this single-centre retrospective analysis, all patients with BTC and treated with durvalumab plus gem/cis from April 2022 to September 2023 were included. Survival and treatment response were investigated, within the context of the inclusion and exclusion criteria of TOPAZ-1 and in correspondence with genetic alterations of the cancer. Results: In total, 35 patients, of which 51% met the inclusion criteria of the TOPAZ-1 trial, were analysed. Patients treated within TOPAZ-1 criteria did not have a significantly different median overall survival and progression free survival than the rest of the patients (10.3 versus 9.7 months and 5.3 versus 5 months, respectively). The disease control rate of patients within the TOPAZ-1 criteria was 61.1%, in comparison to 58.8% in the rest of patients. A total of 51 grade 3 and 4 adverse events were observed without significant differences in the subgroups. No specific correlating patterns of genetic alterations with survival and response were observed. Conclusions: The treatment of advanced patients with BTC with durvalumab and gem/cis, even beyond the inclusion criteria of the TOPAZ-1 trial, shows promising safety.