TPS3151 Background: Tucatinib (TUC) is a highly selective HER2-directed TKI approved in combination with trastuzumab (Tras) and capecitabine (Cape) for HER2 overexpressed/amplified (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (BC), based on a statistically significant and clinically meaningful PFS, OS, and ORR benefit over Tras and Cape. In xenograft models of HER2+ and HER2-mutated (HER2-mut) tumors, dual targeting of HER2 with TUC and Tras showed superior activity to either agent alone. While various HER2-directed agents have been evaluated in HER2+ and HER2-mut tumors, there are no approved HER2 therapies outside of breast and gastric cancers. The SGNTUC-019 basket study is evaluating TUC combined with Tras in patients (pts) with HER2+ or HER2-mut locally-advanced unresectable or metastatic solid tumors. Methods: SGNTUC-019 (NCT04579380) is a multi-cohort, open-label, international phase 2 study. Eligible pts must have progressed on or after the last systemic therapy for advanced disease. Metastatic cervical cancer: must have received platinum-based chemotherapy ± bevacizumab; hormone receptor positive (HR+) HER2-mut BC: must have received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor. Pts must be ≥18 years old, with ECOG PS ≤1, adequate hepatic, hematological, renal, coagulation, and cardiac function, and no prior HER2-directed therapy (except Tras for uterine serous carcinoma). For eligibility, HER2 alterations can be demonstrated by HER2+ in tumor tissue by prior IHC/ISH (IHC 3+/signal ratio ≥2.0 or gene copy number >6), or by HER2 amplification/mutation in a prior or on-study NGS assay of ctDNA or prior tissue NGS assay. Pts with HER2+ disease will be enrolled in cohorts for cervical, uterine, biliary tract, and urothelial cancers, non-squamous NSCLC, and other solid tumors (except GEC, BC, and CRC). Pts with HER2-mut disease will be enrolled in cohorts for non-squamous NSCLC, BC, and other solid tumors. Except for solid tumor and BC cohorts, 12 RECIST 1.1 evaluable pts will be enrolled in each cohort. If ≥2 responses are observed, the cohort will be expanded to a total of 30 pts. Other solid tumor and BC cohorts will enroll 30 pts in a single stage. If justified, additional HER2+ or HER2-mut disease-specific cohorts may be opened. Approximately 162-270 pts are planned. The primary objective is antitumor activity in each cohort, with confirmed ORR per investigator as primary endpoint, and disease control rate, duration of response, PFS, and OS as secondary endpoints. Pts will receive TUC 300 mg orally twice daily and Tras 8 mg/kg IV on Cycle 1 Day 1 and 6 mg/kg q21 days from Cycle 2 Day 1. HR+ BC pts will also receive fulvestrant 500 mg IM every 4 weeks and C1 D15. Disease assessments per RECIST 1.1 will occur q6 weeks for 24 weeks, then q12 weeks. TUC PK will be evaluated in all pts in Cycles 2-6. QoL is evaluated q2 cycle using EQ-5D-5L. Sites are open in the US; EU and Asia will be opened. Enrollment began in Dec 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT04579380.
Integration of Immunotherapy into Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: ALCHEMIST Chemo-Io (ACCIO)
Expanding Beyond Maximum Grade: Chemotherapy Toxicity over Time by Age and Performance Status in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in CALGB 9730 (Alliance A151729)
Abstract Background Prior comparisons of chemotherapy adverse events (AEs) by age and performance status (PS) are limited by the traditional maximum grade approach, which ignores low-grade AEs and longitudinal changes. Materials and Methods To compare fatigue and neuropathy longitudinally by age (<65, ≥65 years) and PS (0–1, 2), we analyzed data from a large phase III trial of carboplatin and paclitaxel versus paclitaxel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (CALGB 9730, n = 529). We performed multivariable (a) linear mixed models to estimate mean AE grade over time, (b) linear regression to estimate area under the curve (AUC), and (c) proportional hazards models to estimate the hazard ratio of developing grade ≥2 AE, as well as traditional maximum grade analyses. Results Older patients had on average a 0.17-point (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00–0.34; p = .049) higher mean fatigue grade longitudinally compared with younger patients. PS 2 was associated with earlier development of grade ≥2 fatigue (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.07–2.27; p = .02). For neuropathy, older age was associated with earlier development of grade ≥2 neuropathy (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.00–1.97; p = .049). Patients with PS 2 had a 1.30 point lower neuropathy AUC (95% CI, −2.36 to −0.25; p = .02) compared with PS 0–1. In contrast, maximum grade analyses only detected a higher percentage of older adults with grade ≥3 fatigue and neuropathy at some point during treatment. Conclusion Our comparison of complementary but distinct aspects of chemotherapy toxicity identified important longitudinal differences in fatigue and neuropathy by age and PS that are missed by the traditional maximum grade approach. Clinical trial identification number: NCT00003117 (CALGB 9730) Implications for Practice The traditional maximum grade approach ignores persistent low-grade adverse events (AEs) and changes over time. This toxicity over time analysis of fatigue and neuropathy during chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer demonstrates how to use longitudinal methods to comprehensively characterize AEs over time by age and performance status (PS). We identified important longitudinal differences in fatigue and neuropathy that are missed by the maximum grade approach. This new information about how older adults and patients with PS 2 experience these toxicities longitudinally may be used clinically to improve discussions about treatment options and what to expect to inform shared decision making and symptom management.
NRG Oncology/Alliance LU005: A phase II/III randomized clinical trial of chemoradiation versus chemoradiation plus atezolizumab in limited stage small cell lung cancer.
TPS9082 Background: Limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) is treated with standard of care platinum/etoposide (EP) and thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) with curative intent, however the majority of patients are not cured and median overall survival is approximately 30 months. Addition of atezolizumab to chemotherapy in extensive stage SCLC has improved progression free and overall survival in a non-curative setting leading to hope that addition of an immune checkpoint inhibitor to standard chemoradiotherapy could benefit LS-SCLC patients. LU005 is a randomized phase II/III trial of standard concurrent chemoradiation with or without atezolizumab for patients with LS-SCLC. Methods: Patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to standard EP chemotherapy with concurrent TRT (45 Gy BID or 66 Gy QD) with or without atezolizumab beginning concurrently with TRT, and continued every 3 weeks for up to 12 months. Eligible patients have LS-SCLC, PS 0-2, adequate organ function, no concerning comorbidities (including no active autoimmune disease) and are eligible for TRT. Patients are randomized prior to their second cycle of EP and thoracic radiation begins with the second overall cycle of chemotherapy (first cycle of study therapy) in both treatment arms. Prophylactic cranial radiation (PCI) is recommended for patients who respond to treatment. The phase II/III primary endpoints are progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) respectively. Secondary endpoints include objective response rates, local and distant disease control, and quality of life/patient reported outcomes assessment. Translational science component includes blood and tissue based immune related assays. This study activated in May 2019. 50 of 506 planned patients have been accrued as of 2/1/2020. Supported by grants U10CA180868 (NRG Oncology Operations), U10CA180822 (NRG Oncology SDMC), U23CA180803 (IROC) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Genentech. *Authors Ross and Higgins are co-first authors and contributed equally to this work. Clinical trial information: NCT03811002.
ALCHEMIST: Adjuvant targeted therapy or immunotherapy for high-risk resected NSCLC.
TPS9077 Background: ALCHEMIST (Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial) is a clinical trial platform of the National Cancer Institute that offers biomarker analysis for high-risk resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to support randomized trials of novel adjuvant therapies within the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). EA5142, a trial of adjuvant nivolumab for patients (pts) without EGFR / ALK alterations, has completed enrollment. Given the survival benefit seen with 1st-line chemo-immunotherapy (chemo-IO) for advanced NSCLC without EGFR / ALK alterations, there was compelling rationale for the launch of a trial offering concurrent immunotherapy with adjuvant chemo. Here we report updated enrollment to ALCHEMIST as of Jan 14, 2020. Methods: ALCHEMIST includes a screening trial (A151216, 5362 registered) that enrolls pts with completely resected clinical stage IB (≥4 cm)–IIIA (per AJCC 7) NSCLC. Tissue and blood are collected, biomarker testing includes EGFR sequencing, ALK FISH and PD-L1 IHC. 733 active sites are enrolling across the NCTN. Pts with EGFR mutations may enroll to adjuvant erlotinib vs observation (A081105, 352 randomized); those with ALK fusions may enroll to adjuvant crizotinib vs observation (E4512, 99 randomized). A trial offering adjuvant nivolumab vs observation regardless of PD-L1 status (EA5142, 935 randomized) recently completed enrollment. To support ongoing investigation of adjuvant immunotherapy, ALCHEMIST is adding A081801 (opens spring 2020). Pts will be randomized to one of 3 arms: chemo-IO with pembrolizumab during and after chemo vs sequential chemo followed by pembrolizumab vs chemo alone. Pts with pathological N2 nodes are eligible and can undergo postoperative radiotherapy after completing chemo. Pts are eligible if enrolled to A151216, negative for EGFR and ALK alterations, and with PD-L1 testing completed (required for stratification). Local testing for EGFR, ALK and PD-L1 will be accepted for enrollment; central testing will not delay randomization. Pts may not have received any therapy except surgery for the lung cancer and must be age >18, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1, have no active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within 2 years, must not be pregnant or nursing, have no active second malignancy within 3 years and meet standard organ function values. By building off the ongoing ALCHEMIST platform, we hope to facilitate rapid enrollment to A081801 across participating NCTN sites. Clinical trial information: NCT02194738.
AFT-16: Phase II trial of atezolizumab before and after definitive chemoradiation (CRT) for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
9045 Background: A minority of the > 40,000 patients (pts) diagnosed with stage III NSCLC annually in the US are cured by CRT, more recently followed by adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). PD-L1 blockade with CRT may attenuate tumor-related immunosuppression via depletion of regulatory T cells and clonal expansion of effector T cells. Further, CRT may expose otherwise hidden antigens that present additional targets to the reconstituting immune system. Adjuvant ICI has improved survival. Whether ICI before CRT will further improve outcomes is unknown. Methods: This Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) study evaluated safety and efficacy of atezolizumab before and after CRT. 4 cycles of atezolizumab 1200 mg IV q 21 days with restaging after cycles 2 and 4 were followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel (C/P) weekly with 60 Gy radiation and C/P consolidation followed by atezolizumab for 1 year of therapy. Primary endpoint is disease control rate (DCR) (complete response + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD)) at 12 weeks (wks). Secondary endpoints include overall response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, safety and quality of life assessed by EORTC QLQ-30. Correlatives include PD-L1 and tumor mutation burden as predictive biomarkers. Tumor tissue was obtained at study entry; plasma and immune cells were isolated at multiple timepoints. Results: 64 pts with stage III NSCLC, performance status (PS) 0-1, no active autoimmune disease or significant organ dysfunction enrolled at 13 Alliance sites from 11/2017 to 7/2019. 62 pts received ≥ 1 dose of atezolizumab and are included in the primary analysis; median age 63.9 years (38.1-86.5), 51.6% female, 77.4% white, 61.3% former smokers, 56.5% PS 0. DCR at 12 wks was 77.4% (80% confidence interval 69.2-84.3%) (30.7% PR, 46.8% SD). 54 pts reported adverse events (AEs) during induction, mostly grade (gr) 1. There were 13 serious AEs, most unrelated to study treatment; 1 gr 3 anaphylactic reaction, 1 gr 3 colitis, and 1 gr 4 Guillain-Barre syndrome were attributable to atezolizumab. Baseline PD-L1 status was available for 49 pts. DCR was 82.4% for pts with PD-L1 negative and 90.9% for pts with PD-L1 positive tumors. Conclusions: Atezolizumab prior to and following CRT for stage III unresectable NSCLC was well tolerated with an encouraging 12-wk DCR. Analysis of secondary endpoints is ongoing. Further study of induction ICI therapy is warranted in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. Support: AFT, Genentech; Clinical trial information: NCT03102242.
A pooled analysis of individual patient data from National Clinical Trials Network clinical trials of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for limited‐stage small cell lung cancer in elderly patients versus younger patients
Background Platinum and etoposide with thoracic radiation followed by prophylactic cranial irradiation constitute the standard treatment for limited‐stage small cell lung cancer (LS‐SCLC). Many patients with LS‐SCLC are elderly with comorbidities. Methods Individual patient data were collected from 11 phase 2 or 3 trials for LS‐SCLC conducted by the National Clinical Trials Network and activated from 1990 to 2010. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); the secondary endpoints were progression‐free survival (PFS), the rate of severe adverse events, and off‐treatment reasons. The outcomes were compared for patients 70 years old or older (elderly patients) and patients younger than 70 years (younger patients). Results Individual patient data from 1049 younger patients (81%) and 254 elderly patients (19%) were analyzed. In the multivariate model, elderly patients, in comparison with younger patients, had worse OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18‐1.63; median OS for elderly patients, 17.8 months; OS for younger patients, 23.5 months) and worse PFS (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03‐1.39; median PFS for elderly patients, 10.6 months; median PFS for younger patients, 12.3 months). Elderly patients, in comparison with younger patients, experienced more grade 5 adverse events (8% vs 3%; P < .01) and more grade 3 or higher dyspnea (11% vs 7%; P = .03) but less grade 3 or higher esophagitis/dysphagia (14% vs 19%; P = .04) and less grade 3 or higher vomiting (11% vs 17%; P = .01). Elderly patients completed treatment less often, discontinued treatment because of adverse events and patient refusal more frequently, and died during treatment more frequently. Conclusions Elderly patients with LS‐SCLC have worse PFS and OS and more difficulty in tolerating therapy. Future trials should incorporate assessments of elderly patients, novel monitoring of adverse events, and more tolerable radiation and systemic therapies.
A pooled analysis of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who participated in U.S. cooperative group trials: Comparing the outcomes of elderly to younger patients (pts).
Validation of Progression-Free Survival as a Surrogate Endpoint for Overall Survival in Malignant Mesothelioma: Analysis of Cancer and Leukemia Group B and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (Alliance) Trials
Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate whether progression-free survival (PFS) can be considered a surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS) in malignant mesothelioma. Materials and Methods Individual data were collected from 15 Cancer and Leukemia Group B (615 patients) and 2 North Central Cancer Treatment Group (101 patients) phase II trials. The effects of 5 risk factors for OS and PFS, including age, histology, performance status (PS), white blood cell count, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk score, were used in the analysis. Individual-level surrogacy was assessed by Kendall’s tau through a Clayton bivariate Copula survival (CBCS) model. Summary-level surrogacy was evaluated via the association between logarithms of the hazard ratio (log HR)—log HROS and log HRPFS—measured in R2 from a weighted least-square (WLS) regression model and the CBCS model. Results The median PFS for all patients was 3.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8–3.5 months) and the median OS was 7.2 months (95% CI, 6.5–8.0 months). Moderate correlations between PFS and OS were observed across all risk factors at the individual level, with Kendall’s tau ranging from 0.46 to 0.47. The summary-level surrogacy varied among risk factors. The Copula R2 ranged from 0.51 for PS to 0.78 for histology. The WLS R2 ranged from 0.26 for EORTC and PS to 0.67 for age. Conclusions The analyses demonstrated low to moderate individual-level surrogacy between PFS and OS. At the summary level, the surrogacy between PFS and OS varied significantly across different risk factors. With a short postprogression survival and a moderate correlation between PFS and OS, there is no evidence that PFS is a valid surrogate endpoint for OS in malignant mesothelioma.