Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy plus Nivolumab before Surgery in Patients with Microsatellite Stable and Microsatellite Instability-High Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Purpose: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgical resection are the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with radiation suggests a promising approach for enhancing efficacy. We investigated the efficacy of CRT followed by nivolumab and surgery in patients with LARC. Patients and Methods: In phase I, we investigated the feasibility of sequentially combined CRT, 5 cycles of nivolumab, and radical surgery. In phase IL patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) LARC were evaluated. Results: Three patients in phase I received full courses of CRT and nivolumab without dose modification; the schedule was recommended for phase II. A pathologic complete response (pCR) was centrally confirmed in 30% [11 /37; 90% confidence interval (CI), 18%-44%] and 60% (3/5) of the MSS and exploratory MSI-H cohorts, respectively. While immune-related severe adverse events were observed in 3 patients, no treatment-related deaths were observed. In 38 patients with MSS who underwent surgery, pCR rates of 75% (6/8) and 17% (5/30; P = 0.004, Fisher exact test) were observed in those with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score >= 1% and <1%, respectively; IHC staining was performed using pre-CRT samples. In 24 patients with MSS, pre-CRT samples were analyzed by flow cytometry; pCR rates of 78% (7/9) and 13% (2/15; P = 0.003, Fisher exact test) were observed for CD8(+) T cell/effector regulatory T cell (CD8/eTreg) ratios of >= 2.5 and <2.5, respectively, in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Conclusions: CRT followed by consolidation nivolumab could increase pCR. PD-L1 expression and an elevated CD8/eTreg ratio were positive predictors in patients with MSS LARC.

Automated summary

The study suggests that consolidation treatment with nivolumab after CRT can increase the pCR rate in patients with rectal cancer. PD-L1 expression and an elevated CD8/eTreg ratio are positive predictors in patients with MSS rectal cancer.