BL-8040, a CXCR4 antagonist, in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: the COMBAT trial

Bruno Bockorny, Valerya Semenisty, Teresa Macarulla, Erkut Borazanci, Brian M. Wolpin, Salomon M. Stemmer, Talia Golan, Ravit Geva, Mitesh J. Borad, Katrina S. Pedersen, Joon Oh Park, Robert A. Ramirez, David G. Abad, Jaime Feliu, Andres Muñoz, Mariano Ponz-Sarvise, Amnon Peled, Tzipora M. Lustig, Osnat Bohana-Kashtan, Stephen M. ShawElla Sorani, Marya Chaney, Shaul Kadosh, Abi Vainstein Haras, Daniel D. Von Hoff, Manuel Hidalgo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors have limited effect in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), underscoring the need to co-target alternative pathways. CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) blockade promotes T cell tumor infiltration and is synergistic with anti-PD-1 therapy in PDAC mouse models. We conducted a phase IIa, open-label, two-cohort study to assess the safety, efficacy and immunobiological effects of the CXCR4 antagonist BL-8040 (motixafortide) with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in metastatic PDAC (NCT02826486). The primary outcome was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and safety. In cohort 1, 37 patients with chemotherapy-resistant disease received BL-8040 and pembrolizumab. The DCR was 34.5% in the evaluable population (modified intention to treat, mITT; N = 29), including nine patients (31%) with stable disease and one patient (3.4%) with partial response. Median OS (mOS) was 3.3 months in the ITT population. Notably, in patients receiving study drugs as second-line therapy, the mOS was 7.5 months. BL-8040 increased CD8+ effector T cell tumor infiltration, decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and further decreased circulating regulatory T cells. In cohort 2, 22 patients received BL-8040 and pembrolizumab with chemotherapy, with an ORR, DCR and median duration of response of 32%, 77% and 7.8 months, respectively. These data suggest that combined CXCR4 and PD-1 blockade may expand the benefit of chemotherapy in PDAC and warrants confirmation in subsequent randomized trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)878-885
Number of pages8
JournalNature Medicine
Volume26
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'BL-8040, a CXCR4 antagonist, in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: the COMBAT trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this