Combination therapy shows promising progression-free survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with high PD-L1 expression

INTRODUCTION: TIGIT and PD-1 trigger distinct but interconnected immunosuppressive pathways. We investigated first-line domvanalimab (Fc-silent anti-TIGIT) plus zimberelimab (anti-PD-1) in PD-L1-high (≥50%), stage IIIB-IV NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This phase 2, multicenter, randomized, open-label study (ARC-10, Part 1) randomized (2:2:1) patients to intravenous domvanalimab 15 mg/kg plus zimberelimab 360 mg (DZ), zimberelimab 360 mg (Z), or platinum-doublet chemotherapy every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), confirmed objective response rate (ORR), and safety. RESULTS: Of 98 randomized patients, 95 received treatment (DZ, n = 38; Z, n = 40; chemotherapy, n = 17). As of May 17, 2024, median follow-up was 24.5 months; 22patients remained on first-line treatment (DZ, n = 11; Z, n = 10; chemotherapy, n = 1). Median (95% CI) PFS was 11.5 (4.0-26.2) months for DZ, 6.2 (2.5-12.3) months for Z, and 9.6 (2.6-16.4) months for chemotherapy. Median (95% CI) OS was not reached (13.7-not evaluable [NE]) for DZ, 24.4(7.8-NE) months for Z, and 11.9(2.7-NE) months for chemotherapy. DZ vs Z hazard ratio (95% CI) was 0.69 (0.40-1.18) for PFS and 0.64 (0.32-1.25) for OS. ORR (95% CI) was 44.7% (28.6-61.7) for DZ, 35.0% (20.6-51.7) for Z, and 35.3% (14.2-61.7) for chemotherapy. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were lower for DZ (21.1%) and Z (15.0%) vs chemotherapy (47.1%). Immune-mediated AEs were similar between DZ (23.7%) and Z (20.0%). Infusion-related reactions were low (0%-7.9% across arms). CONCLUSIONS: Adding Fc-silent anti-TIGIT (domvanalimab) to anti-PD-1 (zimberelimab) led to encouraging efficacy and showed no new safety concerns in patients with previously untreated stage IIIB-IV NSCLC.