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Introduction The iMATRIX-atezo trial (NCT02541604) assessed the safety and pharmacokinetics (primary objectives) and preliminary activity (secondary objective) of atezolizumab in pediatric and young adult patients with refractory/relapsed solid tumors, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Atezolizumab targets PD-L1 expressed by tumor cells leading to an enhanced anticancer T-cell response. The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the association between PD-L1 expression and response to atezolizumab in patients participating in the iMATRIX-atezo trial. Methods Patients aged Results Eighty-seven patients received ≥1 dose of atezolizumab. Of 11 patients with high PD-L1 expression (TC2/TC3/IC2/IC3) and response data, four had a partial response (PR; two with HL, one with NHL, one with a rhabdoid tumor), one had stable disease (SD) and six had progressive disease (PD). Of 52 patients with low or no PD-L1 expression (TC1/TC0/IC1/IC0) and response data, no responses were observed. Though numerically limited, PD-L1 expression and response were significantly correlated (p=0.0006, Fisher’s exact test). HL (8/9 patients) and NHL (2/3 patients) cohorts had the greatest proportion of patients with high baseline PD-L1. Levels of CD8+ (T cells), CD20+ (B cells) and stromal TILs at baseline were significantly associated with patients’ response status (p Conclusions High PD-L1 expression compared with low or no expression was associated with a greater response to atezolizumab, notably in patients with HL and NHL. Despite small sample sizes and limited responses, these biomarker data support adult studies citing the association between PD-L1 and response to atezolizumab; data suggest that PD-L1 may also be a predictor of atezolizumab response in pediatric and young adult patients. Citation Format: Katherine E. Hutchinson, Minlei Liao, Mufiza Farid-Kapadia, Francis Donaldson, Nga Wan Rachel Tam, Lingyan Helen Fu, Meghna Das Thakur, C. Michel Zwaan, Birgit Geoerger, Lynley V. Marshall, Tanya Trippett, Gianluca Rossato. Correlation between response to atezolizumab and PD-L1 tumor expression in pediatric and young adult patients enrolled in the phase I/II iMATRIX-atezo study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3114.

Background Cluster analysis (CA) is a frequently used applied statistical technique that helps to reveal hidden structures and “clusters” found in large data sets. However, this method has not been widely used in large healthcare claims databases where the distribution of expenditure data is commonly severely skewed. The purpose of this study was to identify cost change patterns of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who initiated hemodialysis (HD) by applying different clustering methods. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using the Truven Health MarketScan® Research Databases. Patients aged ≥18 years with ≥2 ESRD diagnoses who initiated HD between 2008 and 2010 were included. The K-means CA method and hierarchical CA with various linkage methods were applied to all-cause costs within baseline (12-months pre-HD) and follow-up periods (12-months post-HD) to identify clusters. Demographic, clinical, and cost information was extracted from both periods, and then examined by cluster. Results A total of 18,380 patients were identified. Meaningful all-cause cost clusters were generated using K-means CA and hierarchical CA with either flexible beta or Ward’s methods. Based on cluster sample sizes and change of cost patterns, the K-means CA method and 4 clusters were selected: Cluster 1: Average to High (n = 113); Cluster 2: Very High to High (n = 89); Cluster 3: Average to Average (n = 16,624); or Cluster 4: Increasing Costs, High at Both Points (n = 1554). Median cost changes in the 12-month pre-HD and post-HD periods increased from $185,070 to $884,605 for Cluster 1 (Average to High), decreased from $910,930 to $157,997 for Cluster 2 (Very High to High), were relatively stable and remained low from $15,168 to $13,026 for Cluster 3 (Average to Average), and increased from $57,909 to $193,140 for Cluster 4 (Increasing Costs, High at Both Points). Relatively stable costs after starting HD were associated with more stable scores on comorbidity index scores from the pre-and post-HD periods, while increasing costs were associated with more sharply increasing comorbidity scores. Conclusions The K-means CA method appeared to be the most appropriate in healthcare claims data with highly skewed cost information when taking into account both change of cost patterns and sample size in the smallest cluster.

Objective: Limited information exists on real-world use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) biologic agents in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study evaluated the treatment patterns and costs of anti-TNFα biologic therapy and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with AS. Methods: MarketScan claim databases were used to identify anti-TNFα biologic treatment-naive AS patients (aged ≥ 18 years that had not undergone anti-TNFα biologic therapy in the previous 6 months) who initiated anti- TNFα biologic treatment between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. Frequency of anti-TNFα biologic switching, duration, treatment modification, and medical and pharmacy drug costs for each line of anti-TNFα biologic therapy was analyzed during the 3-year follow-up. Results: We identified 337 eligible patients with AS. First-line anti-TNFα biologics were: etanercept (n=115), adalimumab (n=129), infliximab (n=38), and golimumab (n=15). Patients who did not switch were persistent with their first-line agent for a longer duration (505 days) than those who switched to a second-line (336 days) or thirdline (325 days) anti-TNFα biologic agent. Time to first treatment modification was shorter for those who switched to second-line (88 days) and third-line 6 days) therapy versus those who remained on first-line therapy (160 days). Monthly per member medical costs were greatest for nonswitchers ($354) than for patients who received secondline ($225) or third-line ($112) anti-TNFα biologic treatment. Overall pharmacy drug costs were similar for patients with first-line ($1899), second-line ($1955) or third-line and further ($1890) therapy. Conclusion: Patients with AS who switched anti-TNFα biologic therapy had more modifications to their treatment during the follow-up period. Those who switched to second- or third-line anti-TNFα biologic therapy had lower medical costs compared with those who remained with first-line treatment; however, pharmacy costs were similar among all.

Background Real-world data regarding anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) biologic therapy use in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are limited; therefore, we described treatment patterns and costs of anti-TNFα therapy in PsA patients in the United States. Methods PsA patients (N = 990) aged ≥18 years who initiated anti-TNFα therapy were selected from MarketScan claims databases (10/1/2009 to 9/30/2010). Number of patients on first- (n = 881), second- (n = 72), or third- or greater (n = 37) line of anti-TNFα therapy, persistence, time-to-switch or modification, pharmacy and medical costs (measured per patient per month [PPPM]) for each line of therapy were observed during the 3-year follow-up. Results PsA patients receiving only one line of anti-TNFα therapy remained on first-line for ~17 months while those who switched to second- or third- or greater persisted on first-line for ~11 to 12 months, respectively. Time to first-line modification was longer for patients who switched to third- or greater line therapy (7 months) than those who did not switch or switched to second-line (range, ~2 to 4 months). Time-to-switch and time to first-line modification was progressively shorter with each line of therapy for patients who received third- or greater line. PPPM medical costs were higher for patients who did not switch ($322) than those who switched to second- ($167) or third- or greater ($217) line. PPPM pharmacy costs were greater for patients with third- or greater line therapy ($2539) than those who did not switch ($1985) or switched to second-line ($2045). Conclusion While the majority of patients received only one line of anti-TNFα therapy, a subset of patients switched to multiple lines of therapy during the 3-year follow-up period. Persistence and therapy modifications differed between these patients and those receiving only one line. Overall medical costs were highest for patients who did not switch, and pharmacy costs increased as patients switched to each new line of therapy.