In all, nine of the 5-year survivors had completed the maximum 96 weeks of nivolumab, four had discontinued due to adverse events, and three had stopped because of disease progression.
“The findings from CA209-003 indicate some patients can derive long-term benefit from nivolumab treatment that is limited to 2 years; however, the question of optimal treatment duration remains to be formally addressed in a prospective controlled trial,” Dr. Gettinger and associates wrote.
The study was supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Gettinger and multiple co-authors reported consulting/advisory roles and research funding with BMS and other relationships with multiple companies. Several co-authors are BMS employees.
SOURCE: : Getting S et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 23 doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.0412 .