Dr. Jonathan Trent on Pembrolizumab in Advanced Sarcomas

Jonathan C. Trent, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, discuses a phase II study of pembrolizumab in advanced sarcomas,

There were several abstracts presented at the ASCO 2016 Annual Meeting that focused on immunotherapy in sarcoma. One of the most interesting looked at SARC028, a phase II study of the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sarcomas, said Trent.

The overall objective response rate 19% and the disease free rate at 4 months was 44% compared to a historical control of 20%. Thirty-three percent of patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, and dedifferentiated liposarcoma treated on this trial had a reduction in tumor size.

This clearly shows that pembrolizumab has activity as a single-agent, said Trent. There is future potential to use it in combination in sarcoma as well, he said.