Brandon Twyford

DocwireNews

Despite high initial response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy, inoperable, locally recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC) is still associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes.
The POD1UM-303 (InterAACT 2) phase 3 trial sought to assess the efficacy and safety of adding retifanlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, to standard carboplatin-paclitaxel (C-P) chemotherapy in patients with inoperable, locally recurrent or metastatic SCAC.
Conducted in a treatment-naive population, the study aimed to determine whether the addition of immunotherapy could improve PFS, a key challenge in this setting, where current platinum-based therapies have suboptimal long-term outcomes.
The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2024 by lead study author Sheela Rao, MD, MBBS, FRCP, of the Gastrointestinal Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, UK.
A total of 308 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either retifanlimab 500 mg every four weeks plus C-P (R arm) or C-P plus placebo (P arm) for up to six cycles, with an option for crossover. The primary endpoint was PFS by blinded independent central review per RESIST v1.1, and secondary endpoints were OS, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DoR), safety, and pharmacokinetics (PK).
The trial met its primary endpoint, with the retifanlimab combination significantly improving median PFS to 9.3 months compared to 7.4 months with C-P alone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63, 95% CI, 0.47-0.84; P=.0006). Although the OS data were still immature, the trial showed a trend toward improved OS with retifanlimab (29.2 months versus 23 months; HR 0.70, P=.0273). In addition, the ORR was higher in the retifanlimab arm (55.8% vs 44.2%; P=.0129), and the DCR was also improved (87% vs 79.9%).
Retifanlimab was well tolerated, with no new safety signals emerging. The incidence of grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events was comparable between the two groups, suggesting that adding retifanlimab does not significantly compromise the safety of the chemotherapy regimen.
The POD1UM-303 study demonstrated that the addition of retifanlimab to carboplatin-paclitaxel significantly improves PFS and ORR in patients with locally recurrent/metastatic SCAC. The study authors noted that the trial “demonstrates encouraging efficacy and favourable benefit/risk ratio for retifanlimab plus SoC chemo as first-line treatment of locally recurrent/metastatic SCAC and suggests a new SoC.”

Rob Dillard

Bridge Bio to Present Outcomes Data from ATTRibute-CM Study at 2024 AHA Scientific Sessions

Heart Failure

Analyzing Prognostic Factors, Survival Based on Histological Type for Endometrial Cancer Patients Treated With Hysterectomy

Gynecologic Cancer

Cecilia Brown

FDA Approves Neoadjuvant, Adjuvant Nivolumab for Resectable NSCLC

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Latest News

POD1UM-303: Retifanlimab Plus Chemotherapy Improves PFS in Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal

GI Cancer

The POD1UM-303 trial demonstrated improved progression-free survival and response rates with retifanlimab plus chemotherapy in SCAC.

POD1UM-303: Retifanlimab Plus Chemotherapy Improves PFS in Metastatic SCAC

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

eNewsletters

Contribute

Contact Us

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

Mesothelioma

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma

Lung Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

The Oncology Brothers

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Healthcare Unfiltered

The Fellow on Call

Partners

Career Center

Expert Interviews

Subscribe