Emily Keung, MD, AM, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discusses how the findings of the Phase II trial (NCT03307616) assessing immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in patients with resectable undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) or dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) before surgery can be used to improve outcomes for these patients. Currently, pre-operative radiotherapy and systemic immunotherapy are not commonly given to patients with resectable primary liposarcoma. Nevertheless, post-operative recurrence rates are high and it is therefore important to develop well-tolerated systemic treatments that will help decrease recurrence rates and improve overall survival (OS). In addition, it would be useful to identify blood- or biopsy-based biomarkers that will help select patients that will benefit from immunotherapy. Moreover, the Phase II study reported a pathologic response of almost 90% at time of surgery for patients with UPS and therefore supported the efficacy of a treatment regimen combining radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade. However, this combination is also associated with significant toxicities and it is thus necessary to conduct further research on the management of treatment-related adverse events. This interview took place during the 36th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
