Aims: In the phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (NCT02603432), avelumab first-line maintenance (1LM) + best supportive care (BSC) significantly prolonged overall survival vs BSC alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) that had not progressed after 1L platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC). Avelumab 1LM is now recommended as standard of care in international guidelines with level 1 evidence. We report real-world data from early access and patient access programs (EA/PAPs) of avelumab 1LM therapy in patients with aUC in Australia.
Methods: Data were collected from Australian EA/PAPs from February 2021 to September 2022, before the reimbursement of avelumab in Australia (October 2022). Patients eligible for data collection had aUC, were progression-free following 1L PBC, and had received ≥1 avelumab dose. Avelumab treatment duration was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: 295 patients (median age, 73.9 years [interquartile range, 67.0-78.5]) received avelumab; the majority were male (79%) and from New South Wales (34%) or Victoria (27%). Most patients had received carboplatin and/or cisplatin + gemcitabine (94%), and the median number of 1L PBC cycles was 4. For 164 patients with available data, the median treatment-free interval (date from end of 1L PBC to avelumab initiation) was 35 days (interquartile range, 28-49). At the time of analysis, 123 of 295 patients (42%) had discontinued avelumab, most commonly due to progressive disease (66%) and adverse events (15%). Of 264 patients with available data, an estimated 35.1% (95% CI, 27.1-43.1) remained on avelumab after 1 year. The estimated median time on avelumab treatment was 37 weeks (95% CI, 31-42).
Conclusions: These real-world data provide insights about how avelumab 1LM, which is the standard-of-care treatment for patients with aUC whose disease has not progressed with 1L PBC, is being incorporated into treatment practice in Australia.
Previously presented at ANZUP 2023, “FNP: 47”, “Tania Moujaber et al.” - Reused with permission.