Epacadostat Shows Value in Two SCCHN Trials

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an enzyme implicated in immune suppression.
• IDO1 inhibitors are being investigated to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
• PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors have shown efficacy in various solid tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of epacadostat, an IDO1 inhibitor, in combination with PD-1 inhibitors.
• To assess the safety and activity of this combination therapy in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Main Methods:

• Clinical trials (ECHO-202/KEYNOTE-037 and ECHO-204) involving patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
• Combination therapy with epacadostat and PD-1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab or nivolumab).
• Evaluation of patient response in other solid tumors like melanoma, urothelial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Main Results:

• Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma demonstrated favorable responses to epacadostat plus pembrolizumab and epacadostat plus nivolumab.
• Epacadostat in combination with PD-1 inhibitors showed promising activity across multiple solid tumor types.

Conclusions:

• The combination of epacadostat and PD-1 inhibitors is a promising therapeutic strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
• This combination approach warrants further investigation in other solid tumors due to observed promising activity.