A phase 3 randomized open label study of durvalumab with or without tremilumimab versus standard of care (SoC) chemotherapy in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (DANUBE)

Status: 
Open
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT02516241
Sponsor: 
AstraZeneca
Enrollment: 
1032
Study Design: 
DANUBE is a randomized, phase 3 trial to evaluate durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab, vs platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for metastatic UC. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to Durvalumab 1500 mg q4w alone until progression (n=346) or Durvalumab plus Tremelimumab 75 mg q4w for up to 4 doses (n=342) or SoC chemotherapy (gemcitabine + cisplatin or carboplatin, up to 6 cycles) (n=344.)
Rationale: 
Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard of care (SoC) for first-line treatment of metastatic UC. While chemotherapy regimens yield high response rates, survival outcomes are poor. Durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) is FDA approved for the treatment of platinum-refractory, metastatic UC. Tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and the combination of durvalumab plus tremelimumab have shown activity in platinum-refractory, metastatic UC regardless of PD-L1 expression.
Endpoints: 
The co-primary endpoints were OS comparing durvalumab monotherapy vs. chemotherapy groups among patients whose tumors had high PD-L1 expression and overall survival comparing durvalumab + tremelimumab vs. chemotherapy groups in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population.
Comments: 
The primary endpoints in his study were not met. With a median follow-up for survival of 41.2 months, this study has the longest follow-up to date for a randomized trial of an immunotherapy in previously untreated, metastatic UC. Further investigation of the combination in the context of checkpoint inhibitors may be warranted.
Results: 
The DANUBE trial did not meet either of the co-primary endpoints of overall survival. However, secondary analyses suggested that the combination of durvalumab + tremelimumab has activity, which is enhanced in patients with tumours that have high PD-L1 expression. This trial was a negative trial but it does suggest that a biomarker-based strategy should be tested in patients whose tumors are PD-L1 positive and may benefit from the combination of durvalumab + tremelimumab.