Targetting PD-L1 with avelumab in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma

Dr Kaufman speaks with ecancertv at ASCO 2016 to discuss the results of phase II JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial, in which patients with metastatic Merkl cell carcinoma received avelumab, a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus, with limited therapeutic options after 1st-line chemotherapy.

Dr Kaufman describes the results of the JAVELIN trial in which, of a cohort of 88, six patients (9.8%) achieved complete responses, 12 (19.7%) had partial responses, and 7 (11.5%) had stable disease (83.3% responses were ongoing).

He also details the ongoing progression free survival data, and offers that additional clinical evaluation of avelumab for is warranted.