The purpose of this trial is to evaluate efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) versus placebo plus SOC chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-FU as first-line treatment in participants with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal carcinoma. The overall primary efficacy hypotheses are as follows: 1. In participants with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), participants whose tumors are programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive (defined as combined positive score \[CPS\] ≥10), ESCC participants whose tumors are PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥10), and in all participants, overall survival (OS) is superior with pembrolizumab plus SOC chemotherapy compared with placebo plus SOC chemotherapy. 2. In participants with ESCC, participants whose tumors are PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥10), and in all participants, progression-free survival (PFS) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 as assessed by investigator is superior with pembrolizumab plus SOC chemotherapy compared with placebo plus SOC chemotherapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
749
200 mg administered IV Q3W on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle, up to 35 administrations.
Placebo to pembrolizumab (saline) administered IV Q3W on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle, up to 35 administrations.
80 mg/m\^2 administered IV Q3W on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle. Duration of cisplatin treatment will be capped at 6 doses.
800 mg/m\^2/day (4000 mg/m\^2 total per cycle) administered as continuous IV infusion on Days 1 to 5 (120 hours) of each 3-week cycle, or per local standard for 5-FU administration, up to 35 administrations.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California ( Site 0003)
West Los Angeles, California, United States
The University of Chicago Medical Center ( Site 0001)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
University of Kansas ( Site 0029)
Westwood, Kansas, United States
University of Maryland Medical Center ( Site 0013)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Center ( Site 0009)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) Whose Tumors Are Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Biomarker-Positive (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥10)
Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS is reported here for all participants of the Intent-To-Treat (ITT) population (all randomized) who had ESCC and who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
OS in Participants With ESCC
Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had ESCC.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
OS in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
OS in All Participants
Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized).
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
Progression-free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) As Assessed By Investigator in Participants With ESCC
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, 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. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, PFS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had ESCC.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
PFS Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, 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. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, PFS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
PFS Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in All Participants
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, 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. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, PFS is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized).
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in All Participants
ORR 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) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by the investigator. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized).
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
ORR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants With ESCC Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
ORR 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) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by the investigator. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had ESCC and who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
ORR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants With ESCC
ORR 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) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by the investigator. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had ESCC.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
ORR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
ORR 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) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by the investigator. The sponsor allowed a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ on this study. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
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Henry Ford Cancer Center ( Site 0018)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Washington University School of Medicine ( Site 0031)
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Roswell Park Cancer Institute ( Site 0004)
Buffalo, New York, United States
Weill Cornell Medical College ( Site 0024)
New York, New York, United States
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center ( Site 0002)
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
...and 179 more locations
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in All Participants
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, DOR is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had CR or PR.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
DOR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants With ESCC Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, DOR is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had CR or PR, and who had ESCC and were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
DOR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants With ESCC
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, DOR is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had CR or PR, and who had ESCC.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
DOR Per RECIST 1.1 As Assessed By Investigator in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, DOR is reported here for all participants of the ITT population (all randomized) who had CR or PR, and were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Up to approximately 34 months
Number of Participants With an Adverse Event (AE)
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable 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 medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. The number of participants that experienced at least one AE was reported for each treatment arm.
Time frame: Up to approximately 28 months
Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Treatment Due to an AE
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable 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 medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. The number of participants that discontinued any study drug due to an AE was reported for each treatment arm.
Time frame: Up to approximately 27 months
Change From Baseline To Week 18 in the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (QLQ-C30) Global Health Status/Quality of Life (GHS/QoL) Combined Score in All Participants
The EORTC-QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the Global Health Status (GHS) question "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" (Item 29) and the Quality of Life (QoL) question "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" (Item 30) were scored on a 7-point scale (1=Very Poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores were standardized so that scores ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a better overall outcome. Per protocol, change from baseline to Week 18 in the GHS/QoL combined score was reported by treatment arm as a pre-specified secondary analysis for all participants.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline To Week 18 in the EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL Combined Score in Participants With ESCC Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
The EORTC-QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the Global Health Status (GHS) question "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" (Item 29) and the Quality of Life (QoL) question "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" (Item 30) were scored on a 7-point scale (1=Very Poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores were standardized so that scores ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a better overall outcome. Per protocol, change from baseline to Week 18 in the GHS/QoL combined score was reported by treatment arm as a pre-specified secondary analysis for all participants who had ESCC and who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline To Week 18 in the EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL Combined Score in Participants With ESCC
The EORTC-QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the Global Health Status (GHS) question "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" (Item 29) and the Quality of Life (QoL) question "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" (Item 30) were scored on a 7-point scale (1=Very Poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores were standardized so that scores ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a better overall outcome. Per protocol, change from baseline to Week 18 in the GHS/QoL combined score was reported by treatment arm as a pre-specified secondary analysis for all participants who had ESCC.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline To Week 18 in the EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL Combined Score in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
The EORTC-QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the Global Health Status (GHS) question "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" (Item 29) and the Quality of Life (QoL) question "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" (Item 30) were scored on a 7-point scale (1=Very Poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores were standardized so that scores ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a better overall outcome. Per protocol, change from baseline to Week 18 in the GHS/QoL combined score was reported by treatment arm as a pre-specified secondary analysis for all participants who were PD-L1 CPS ≥10.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline in the EORTC Quality Of Life Questionnaire Oesophageal Module (QLQ-OES18) Subscale Scores in All Participants
The EORTC QLQ-OES18 is a disease-specific questionnaire developed and validated to address measurements specific to esophageal cancer and contains 18 items assessing symptoms of dysphagia, pain, reflux symptoms, eating restrictions, anxiety, dry mouth, taste, body image, and hair loss. For the purposes of this study, the Dysphagia subscale (three items), Pain subscale (three items), and Reflux subscale (two items) were evaluated. All subscale items were scored using a four-point Likert scale with the following response choices: 1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. Raw scores for the subscales were standardized into a range of 0 to 100 by linear transformation, with higher symptom scores represent a higher ("worse") level of symptoms. Per protocol, change from baseline to Week 18 in the Dysphagia, Pain, and Reflux subscales was reported for all participants in each treatment arm. Negative changes from baseline indicate a decrease in symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline in the EORTC QLQ-OES18 Subscale Scores in Participants With ESCC Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
The EORTC QLQ-OES18 is a disease-specific questionnaire developed and validated to address measurements specific to esophageal cancer and contains 18 items assessing symptoms of dysphagia, pain, reflux symptoms, eating restrictions, anxiety, dry mouth, taste, body image, and hair loss. For the purposes of this study, the Dysphagia subscale (three items), Pain subscale (three items), and Reflux subscale (two items) were evaluated. All subscale items were scored using a four-point Likert scale with the following response choices: 1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. Raw scores for the subscales were standardized into a range of 0 to 100 by linear transformation, with higher symptom scores representing a higher ("worse") level of symptoms. Change from baseline to Week 18 in the Dysphagia, Pain, and Reflux subscales was reported for participants with ESCC who were PD-L1 CPS≥10 in each treatment arm. Negative changes from baseline indicate a decrease in symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline in the EORTC QLQ-OES18 Subscale Scores in Participants With ESCC
The EORTC QLQ-OES18 is a disease-specific questionnaire developed and validated to address measurements specific to esophageal cancer and contains 18 items assessing symptoms of dysphagia, pain, reflux symptoms, eating restrictions, anxiety, dry mouth, taste, body image, and hair loss. For the purposes of this study, the Dysphagia subscale (three items), Pain subscale (three items), and Reflux subscale (two items) were evaluated. All subscale items were scored using a four-point Likert scale with the following response choices: 1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. Raw scores for the subscales were standardized into a range of 0 to 100 by linear transformation, with higher symptom scores representing a higher ("worse") level of symptoms. Change from baseline to Week 18 in the Dysphagia, Pain, and Reflux subscales was reported for participants with ESCC in each treatment arm. Negative changes from baseline indicate a decrease in symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18
Change From Baseline in the EORTC QLQ-OES18 Subscale Scores in Participants Whose Tumors Are PD-L1 Biomarker-Positive (CPS ≥10)
The EORTC QLQ-OES18 is a disease-specific questionnaire developed and validated to address measurements specific to esophageal cancer and contains 18 items assessing symptoms of dysphagia, pain, reflux symptoms, eating restrictions, anxiety, dry mouth, taste, body image, and hair loss. For the purposes of this study, the Dysphagia subscale (three items), Pain subscale (three items), and Reflux subscale (two items) were evaluated. All subscale items were scored using a four-point Likert scale with the following response choices: 1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. Raw scores for the subscales were standardized into a range of 0 to 100 by linear transformation, with higher symptom scores representing a higher ("worse") level of symptoms. Change from baseline to Week 18 in the Dysphagia, Pain, and Reflux subscales was reported for participants who were PD-L1 CPS≥10 in each treatment arm. Negative changes from baseline indicate a decrease in symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 18