Renal Cell Carcinoma
Conditions
Keywords
PD1, PD-1, PDL1, PD-L1, PDL2, PD-L2, VEGFR TKI
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in combination with axitinib versus sunitinib monotherapy as a first-line treatment for participants with advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The primary hypotheses of this study are: 1. The combination therapy of pembrolizumab plus axitinib is superior to sunitinib monotherapy with respect to Progression-Free Survival (PFS) as assessed by blinded independent central imaging review per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) 2. The combination therapy of pembrolizumab plus axitinib is superior to sunitinib monotherapy with respect to Overall Survival (OS).
Interventions
BIOLOGICALPembrolizumab
Intravenous infusion
DRUGAxitinib
Oral tablet
DRUGSunitinib
Oral capsule
Sponsors
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Has histologically confirmed diagnosis of RCC with clear cell component with or without sarcomatoid features * Has locally advanced/metastatic disease (i.e., newly diagnosed Stage IV RCC per American Joint Committee on Cancer) or has recurrent disease * Has measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator/site radiologist * Has received no prior systemic therapy for advanced RCC. * Has provided archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated. * Has Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 70% as assessed within 10 days prior to randomization. * If receiving bone resorptive therapy (including but not limited to bisphosphonate or RANK-L inhibitor) must have therapy initiated at least 2 weeks prior to randomization. * Demonstrates adequate organ function. * Female participants of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study drug. * Male participants of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception, starting with the first dose of study drug through 120 days after the last dose of study drug.
Exclusion criteria
* Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to randomization. * Has had major surgery within 4 weeks, received radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to randomization, or has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from AEs due to prior treatment. * Has had prior treatment with any anti-programmed cell death (anti-PD-1), or programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), or PD-L2 agent or an antibody targeting any other immune-regulatory receptors or mechanisms. * Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy for RCC with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptors (VEGFR) or mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) targeting agents. * Has a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction (e.g., generalized rash/erythema, hypotension, bronchospasm, angioedema or anaphylaxis) to axitinib or sunitinib. * Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency OR is receiving a systemic steroid therapy exceeding physiologic corticosteroid dose or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to randomization, except in the case of central nervous system (CNS) metastases. * Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment with in the past 2 years OR a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease. Note: Participants with vitiligo, Sjøgren's syndrome, Type 1 diabetes, resolved childhood asthma/atopy, hypothyroidism or adrenal or pituitary insufficiency who are stable on hormone replacement, are not excluded. * Has a known additional malignancy that has progressed or has required active treatment in the last 3 years. Note: Basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ such as breast cancer in situ are acceptable if they have undergone potentially curative therapy. * Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. * Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis. * Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. * Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). * Has known active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection. * Has received a live virus vaccine within 30 days of randomization. * Has a clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) abnormality including: * Malabsorption, total gastric resection * Or any condition that might affect the absorption of orally taken medication * Active GI bleeding, as evidenced by hematemesis, hematochezia or melena in the past 3 months without evidence of resolution documented by endoscopy or colonoscopy * Intraluminal metastatic lesion with suspected bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis or other GI condition associated with increased risk of perforation * Has QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) ≥480 msec. * Has a history of any of the following cardiovascular conditions within 12 months of randomization: * Myocardial infarction * Unstable angina pectoris * Cardiac angioplasty or stenting * Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft * Class III or IV congestive heart failure per New York Heart Association * Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack * Has a history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months of screening. * Has poorly controlled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥150 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg. * Has evidence of inadequate wound healing. * Has active bleeding disorder or other history of significant bleeding episodes within 30 days of randomization. * Has hemoptysis within 6 weeks prior to randomization. * Has current use (within 7 days of randomization) or anticipated need for treatment with drugs or foods that are known strong cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4/5) inhibitors. * Has current use (within 7 days of randomization) or anticipated need for treatment with drugs that are known strong CYP3A4/5 inducers, including but not limited to carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, and St. John's wort; or drugs that are known with proarrhythmic potential. * Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study. * Has had a prior solid organ transplant. * Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study drug.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The PFS per RECIST 1.1 was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The PFS for participants is presented. |
| Overall Survival (OS) | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the interim analysis were censored at the date of the last follow up. The OS was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The OS for participants is presented. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | ORR was determined per RECIST 1.1 and was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters) per RECIST 1.1. The ORR was calculated using the Miettinen \& Nurminen method stratified by International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Database Consortium (IMDC) risk group (favorable vs. intermediate vs. poor) and geographic region (North America vs. Western Europe vs. Rest of World). The percentage of participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented. |
| Disease Control Rate (DCR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | DCR was defined as the percentage of participants who had a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions), Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters), or Stable Disease (SD) per RECIST 1.1 for ≥6 months. The DCR was calculated using the Miettinen \& Nurminen method stratified by International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Database Consortium (IMDC) risk group (favorable vs. intermediate vs. poor) and geographic region (North America vs. Western Europe vs. Rest of World). The percentage of participants who experienced a CR, PR, or SD is presented. |
| Duration of Response (DOR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters) per RECIST 1.1 until progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. PD was defined per RECIST 1.1 as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The DOR was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The DOR for all participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented. |
| Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE) | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE. The number of participants who experienced at least one AE is presented. |
| Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Drug Due to an AE | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE. The number of participants who discontinued study treatment due to an AE is presented. |
| Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 12 in All Participants | Month 12 | The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 12. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment. The PFS rate at Month 12 is presented. |
| Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 18 in All Participants | Month 18 | The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 18. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment. The PFS rate at Month 18 is presented. |
| Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 24 in All Participants | Month 24 | The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 24. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment. |
| Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 12 in All Participants | Month 12 | The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 12 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment. The OS rate at Month 12 is presented. |
| Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 18 in All Participants | Month 18 | The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 18 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment. The OS rate at Month 18 is presented. |
| Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 24 in All Participants | Month 24 | The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 24 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment. |
| Time to True Deterioration (TTD) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index Disease-Related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS) Score | Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months) | TTD was defined as time (in months) from the first dose of study treatment to the date of deterioration of FKSI-DRS Score. The FKSI-DRS was a questionnaire that asked the participant to rate 9 kidney cancer-related symptoms: lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss, pain, bone pain, shortness of breath, cough, fever, or blood in the urine. Each item was scored on a 5-point scale (0=not at all to 4=very much). FKSI-DRS total score ranged from 0 (most severe symptoms) to 36 (no symptoms) with a higher score indicating a better outcome. Deterioration was defined as a 3-point decrease (i.e. lower score) in symptom score and the time to true deterioration was the time to first onset of 3 or more decreases from baseline with confirmation under right-censoring rule (the last observation). The time to true deterioration as measured in months is presented. |
| Least Squares (LS) Mean Change From Baseline to Week 54 in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status (GHS) Scale Score | Baseline (prior to first dose of study treatment in Cycle 1 [cycle length = 21 days]) and Week 54 | EORTC QLQ-C30 is a questionnaire that rates the overall quality of life in cancer participants. The first 28 questions use a 4-point scale (1=not at all to 4=very much) for evaluating function (physical, role, social, cognitive, emotional), symptoms (diarrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, insomnia, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and pain) and financial difficulties. The last 2 questions use a 7-point scale (1=very poor to 7=excellent) to evaluate overall health and quality of life. Global scores are converted to a score of 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating improved health status. |
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORMedical Director
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Participant flow
Pre-assignment details
These interim results are based on a database cutoff date of 24-Aug-2018, at which time 693 participants were ongoing in the study.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks PLUS axitinib 5 mg orally twice daily. | 432 |
| Sunitinib Participants received sunitinib 50 mg orally once daily for 4 weeks and then were off treatment for 2 weeks. | 429 |
| Total | 861 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Sunitinib | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 61.2 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 10 | 60.8 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.2 | 61.0 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.1 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino | 19 Participants | 18 Participants | 37 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino | 377 Participants | 387 Participants | 764 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 36 Participants | 24 Participants | 60 Participants |
| Geographic Region North America | 104 Participants | 103 Participants | 207 Participants |
| Geographic Region Rest of World | 222 Participants | 222 Participants | 444 Participants |
| Geographic Region Western Europe | 106 Participants | 104 Participants | 210 Participants |
| International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) Risk Group Favorable | 138 Participants | 131 Participants | 269 Participants |
| International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) Risk Group Intermediate | 238 Participants | 246 Participants | 484 Participants |
| International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) Risk Group Poor | 56 Participants | 52 Participants | 108 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 66 Participants | 71 Participants | 137 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 10 Participants | 8 Participants | 18 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 13 Participants | 9 Participants | 22 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 343 Participants | 341 Participants | 684 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 124 Participants | 109 Participants | 233 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 308 Participants | 320 Participants | 628 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 59 / 432 | 97 / 429 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 417 / 429 | 415 / 425 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 173 / 429 | 133 / 425 |
Outcome results
Primary
Overall Survival (OS)
OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the interim analysis were censored at the date of the last follow up. The OS was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The OS for participants is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Overall Survival (OS) | NA Months |
| Sunitinib | Overall Survival (OS) | NA Months |
p-value: 0.0000595% CI: [0.38, 0.74]Log Rank
Primary
Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The PFS per RECIST 1.1 was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The PFS for participants is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 15.1 Months |
| Sunitinib | Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 11.0 Months |
p-value: 0.0001295% CI: [0.56, 0.84]Log Rank
Secondary
Disease Control Rate (DCR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review
DCR was defined as the percentage of participants who had a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions), Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters), or Stable Disease (SD) per RECIST 1.1 for ≥6 months. The DCR was calculated using the Miettinen & Nurminen method stratified by International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Database Consortium (IMDC) risk group (favorable vs. intermediate vs. poor) and geographic region (North America vs. Western Europe vs. Rest of World). The percentage of participants who experienced a CR, PR, or SD is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants who experienced a PR, CR or SD for ≥6 months.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Disease Control Rate (DCR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 71.5 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Disease Control Rate (DCR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 60.6 Percentage of participants |
95% CI: [4.8, 17]
Secondary
Duration of Response (DOR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review
DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters) per RECIST 1.1 until progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. PD was defined per RECIST 1.1 as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The DOR was calculated using the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. The DOR for all participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants who experienced a CR or PR.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Duration of Response (DOR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | NA Months |
| Sunitinib | Duration of Response (DOR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 15.2 Months |
Secondary
Least Squares (LS) Mean Change From Baseline to Week 54 in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status (GHS) Scale Score
EORTC QLQ-C30 is a questionnaire that rates the overall quality of life in cancer participants. The first 28 questions use a 4-point scale (1=not at all to 4=very much) for evaluating function (physical, role, social, cognitive, emotional), symptoms (diarrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, insomnia, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and pain) and financial difficulties. The last 2 questions use a 7-point scale (1=very poor to 7=excellent) to evaluate overall health and quality of life. Global scores are converted to a score of 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating improved health status.
Time frame: Baseline (prior to first dose of study treatment in Cycle 1 [cycle length = 21 days]) and Week 54
Secondary
Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Drug Due to an AE
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE. The number of participants who discontinued study treatment due to an AE is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all participants who received ≥1 dose of study treatment.
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Drug Due to an AE | 131 Participants |
| Sunitinib | Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Drug Due to an AE | 59 Participants |
Secondary
Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE. The number of participants who experienced at least one AE is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all participants who received ≥1 dose of study treatment.
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE) | 422 Participants |
| Sunitinib | Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE) | 423 Participants |
Secondary
Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review
ORR was determined per RECIST 1.1 and was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters) per RECIST 1.1. The ORR was calculated using the Miettinen & Nurminen method stratified by International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Database Consortium (IMDC) risk group (favorable vs. intermediate vs. poor) and geographic region (North America vs. Western Europe vs. Rest of World). The percentage of participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 59.3 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Imaging Review | 35.7 Percentage of participants |
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [17.2, 29.9]Miettinen & Nurminen method
Secondary
Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 12 in All Participants
The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 12 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment. The OS rate at Month 12 is presented.
Time frame: Month 12
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 12 in All Participants | 89.9 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 12 in All Participants | 78.3 Percentage of participants |
Secondary
Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 18 in All Participants
The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 18 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment. The OS rate at Month 18 is presented.
Time frame: Month 18
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 18 in All Participants | 82.3 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 18 in All Participants | 72.1 Percentage of participants |
Secondary
Overall Survival (OS) Rate at Month 24 in All Participants
The OS rate was determined for all participants at Month 24 and was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants were censored at the date of their last assessment.
Time frame: Month 24
Secondary
Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 12 in All Participants
The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 12. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment. The PFS rate at Month 12 is presented.
Time frame: Month 12
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 12 in All Participants | 59.6 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 12 in All Participants | 46.1 Percentage of participants |
Secondary
Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 18 in All Participants
The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 18. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment. The PFS rate at Month 18 is presented.
Time frame: Month 18
Population: The analysis population consisted of all randomized participants.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 18 in All Participants | 41.1 Percentage of participants |
| Sunitinib | Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 18 in All Participants | 32.8 Percentage of participants |
Secondary
Progression Free Survival Rate (PFS Rate) at Month 24 in All Participants
The PFS rate was determined in all participants at Month 24. PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The date of PD was approximated by the date of the first assessment at which PD was documented per RECIST 1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Death was always considered as confirmed PD. Participants who did not experience PFS were censored at the last disease assessment.
Time frame: Month 24
Secondary
Time to True Deterioration (TTD) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index Disease-Related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS) Score
TTD was defined as time (in months) from the first dose of study treatment to the date of deterioration of FKSI-DRS Score. The FKSI-DRS was a questionnaire that asked the participant to rate 9 kidney cancer-related symptoms: lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss, pain, bone pain, shortness of breath, cough, fever, or blood in the urine. Each item was scored on a 5-point scale (0=not at all to 4=very much). FKSI-DRS total score ranged from 0 (most severe symptoms) to 36 (no symptoms) with a higher score indicating a better outcome. Deterioration was defined as a 3-point decrease (i.e. lower score) in symptom score and the time to true deterioration was the time to first onset of 3 or more decreases from baseline with confirmation under right-censoring rule (the last observation). The time to true deterioration as measured in months is presented.
Time frame: Through Database Cutoff Date of 24-Aug-2018 (up to approximately 22 months)
Population: All randomized participants who received at least 1 dose of study medication and completed at least 1 questionnaire assessment.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Time to True Deterioration (TTD) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index Disease-Related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS) Score | NA Months |
| Sunitinib | Time to True Deterioration (TTD) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index Disease-Related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS) Score | NA Months |
Post Hoc
Least Squares (LS) Mean Change From Baseline to Week 30 in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status (GHS) Scale Score
EORTC QLQ-C30 is a cancer-specific instrument with 30 questions used to assess the overall quality of life (QOL) in cancer participants. The first 28 questions used a 4-point scale (1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much) for evaluating 5 functional scales (physical, role, social, cognitive, emotional), 8 symptom scales/items (diarrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, insomnia, nausea and vomiting \[N/V\], constipation, and pain) and a single item (financial difficulties). The last 2 questions represented the participant's assessment of overall health and quality of life on a 7-point scale (1=very poor to 7=excellent). EORTC QLQ-C30 global scores were linearly transformed on a scale of 0 to 100; with a high score indicating improved health status. Negative change from baseline values indicated deterioration in health status or functioning and positive changes indicated improvement. The LS Mean change from baseline to Week 30 is presented.
Time frame: Baseline (prior to first dose of study treatment in Cycle 1 [cycle length = 21 days]) and Week 30
Population: All participants who received at least 1 dose of study medication and had non-missing questionnaire assessments at baseline and Week 30.
| Arm | Measure | Value (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Least Squares (LS) Mean Change From Baseline to Week 30 in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status (GHS) Scale Score | -4.05 Score on a scale |
| Sunitinib | Least Squares (LS) Mean Change From Baseline to Week 30 in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status (GHS) Scale Score | -2.35 Score on a scale |
Other Pre-specified
Mean Baseline EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Score
EORTC QLQ-C30 is a questionnaire that rates the overall quality of life in cancer participants. The first 28 questions use a 4-point scale (1=not at all to 4=very much) for evaluating function (physical, role, social, cognitive, emotional), symptoms (diarrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, insomnia, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and pain) and financial difficulties. The last 2 questions use a 7-point scale (1=very poor to 7=excellent) to evaluate overall health and quality of life. Global scores are converted to a score of 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating improved health status. The mean baseline EORTC QLQ-C30 score is presented.
Time frame: Baseline (prior to first dose of study treatment in Cycle 1 [cycle length = 21 days])
Population: All participants with non-missing questionnaire assessments at baseline.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab + Axitinib | Mean Baseline EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Score | 70.90 Score on a scale | Standard Deviation 21.037 |
| Sunitinib | Mean Baseline EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Score | 72.07 Score on a scale | Standard Deviation 20.642 |