Dr. Villaruz on Updates From the CheckMate-227 Trial With Nivolumab/Ipilimumab in NSCLC

Liza C. Villaruz, MD, associate professor of medicine, medical oncologist, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses updated data from the phase 3 CheckMate-227 trial (NCT02477826) examining nivolumab (Opdivo) with or without ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer. 

The updated survival data demonstrated preserved survival benefits with the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab over chemotherapy, across all levels of PD-L1 expression, according to Villaruz. The primary end point of the study was survival in patients with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of 1% or more, and data showed a significant benefit in favor of the combination, Villaruz says.

Data with checkpoint inhibitors in this patient population are scarce. However, findings from this trial suggest that combining checkpoint inhibitors with nivolumab could be considered for select patients depending on certain characteristics, Villaruz concludes.