Time trend in treatment-related deaths of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer enrolled into phase III trials of systemic treatment

PURPOSE

Despite recent improvements in supportive care, treatment-related death (TRD) remains a serious problem for lung cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy. However, few studies have formally assessed possible changes in the TRD rate over the past two decades.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We searched phase III trials to address the role of systemic treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Time trend was assessed using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of TRD was calculated from 119 trials including 263 chemotherapy arms (46 477 patients), with information about the causes of deaths available for 197 arms (75%, 30 147 patients). Cisplatin-based regimens were the most frequently investigated. The crude TRD rate in the overall cohort of 119 trials was 1.26% and has been notably consistent over the investigated time (P = 0.762). The most common cause of death was febrile neutropenia, with no significant change in its incidence over the years (P = 0.139). In contrast, deaths due to renal toxicity decreased significantly (P = 0.042), whereas deaths due to pulmonary disorder increased significantly (P = 0.007). Among the pharmacological agents investigated, docetaxel (Taxotere) and epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) were associated with relatively high rates of deaths from pulmonary disorders, but EGFR-TKIs were not associated with death from any other cause.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite of potential confounders in our results, the overall TRD rate has remained low, but not negligible, in phase III trials for advanced NSCLC, over the past two decades. Notably, the incidence and pattern of TRD stratified by cause have changed considerably.

Clinical importance of B7-H3 expression in human pancreatic cancer

Background:

B7-H3 is a new member of the B7 ligand family and regulates T-cell responses in various conditions. However, the role of B7-H3 in tumour immunity is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of B7-H3 expression in human pancreatic cancer and the therapeutic potential for cancer immunotherapy.

Methods:

We investigated B7-H3 expression in 59 patients with pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Furthermore, we examined the anti-tumour effect of B7-H3-blocking monoclonal antibody in vivo in a murine pancreatic cancer model.

Results:

Tumour-related B7-H3 expression was abundant in most human pancreatic cancer tissues and was significantly higher compared with that in non-cancer tissue or normal pancreas. Moreover, its expression was significantly more intense in cases with lymph node metastasis and advanced pathological stage. B7-H3 blockade promoted CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration into the tumour and induced a substantial anti-tumour effect on murine pancreatic cancer. In addition, the combination of gemcitabine with B7-H3 blockade showed a synergistic anti-tumour effect without overt toxicity.

Conclusion:

Our data show for the first time that B7-H3 may have a critical role in pancreatic cancer and provide the rationale for developing a novel cancer immunotherapy against this fatal disease.

Comparison of incidence and pattern of interstitial lung disease (ILD) during erlotinib and gefitinib treatment in Japanese pts with NSCLC

e19056

Background: Erlotinib was approved in Dec 2007 in Japan, and incidence and pattern of ILD during its therapy for Japanese pts with NSCLC has not still been determined, although we had previously reported the frequency of ILD through the gefitinib treatment [PASCO2004, #7063]. In this study, we intended to elucidate this issue in pts receiving erlotinib therapy. Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 159 pts who had initiated erlotinib therapy last year (cohort A), and of 330 pts receiving gefitinib between 2000 and 2003 (cohort B) for comparing the incidence and pattern of ILD during the both TKI treatments. Toxicity data during the first months after the initiation of TKIs were obtained. Results: The demographics of 489 pts were as follows; M:63%, Ad:75%, and PS 0–1:69%. None of pts in the cohort B received erlotinib therapy before the gefitinib treatment, whereas 66 of the 159 cohort A pts (42%) were given gefitinib before the erlotinib therapy. In 23% and 28% of the pts in the cohorts A and B, erlotinib and gefitinb treatments were discontinued within 1 month after the initiation of TKI therapy, respectively. Two pts (1.3%) developed ILD in the cohort A during the first month of erlotinib treatment, while 8 ILD-events (2.4%) were observed in the gefitinib therapy (cohort B) during the same treatment period. Both 2 pts who developed ILD during the erlotinib therapy had not had a history of prior gefitinib treatment. The toxicity grades of ILD were as follows: grades 1 and 2 in 1 each (cohort A) and grades 3, 4 and 5 in 1, 1 and 6 pts, respectively (cohort B). Statistically significant factors affecting the occurrence of ILD by multivariate analysis were presence of prior pulmonary fibrosis (OR=37.3, p<0.01) and poor PS (OR=6.4, p=0.02), but type of TKIs was not a significant risk factor for ILD. Conclusions: In this setting, the type of TKIs did not affect the incidence of ILD although its incidence after the initiation of erlotinib was somewhat low as compared with that during gefitinib therapy. In addition, the grade of ILD was less severe in the cohort A. These might be partly due to a patient selection based on the recent awareness of Japanese physicians regarding the risk factors for ILD events who learned it through the gefitinib treatment.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A phase II trial of erlotinib monotherapy in pretreated patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who do not possess active EGFR mutations

8067

Background: Efficacy of gefitinib therapy strongly depends on the presence of active EGFR mutations in Asian NSCLC pts, with objective response rates (ORR) of 71.2% and only 1.1% in active mutant-positive (EGFRmt+) and -negative (EGFRmt-) tumors, respectively [Mok T, ESMO2008]. Recently, the survival advantage of erlotinib, another TKI, is observed even in pts with EGFRmt- tumors (HR=0.74, p=0.09 [Zhu C, JCO2008]), indicating such subpopulation might also benefit from this TKI. The aim of this trial was to evaluate its efficacy and toxicity in Japanese pts with relapsedEGFRmt- tumors. Methods: Primary endpoint was ORR. Patients with EGFRmt--NSCLC previously treated with one to three chemotherapy regimens were enrolled in this trial. The mutation status was assessed by the PCR clamp methods. Erlotinib was administered at a dose of 150mg/day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. Results: Thirty pts were enrolled between Jan and Dec 2008. Median duration of erlotinib treatment was 60 days. All pts were assessable for efficacy and safety. Demographics of the pts were as follows: M/F:24/6, Ad/others:20/10, ECOG-PS 0/1/2:7/19/4, and smoker/non-smoker:22/8. Platinum-based regimens were commonly used as the prior chemotherapy. Objective response was obtained in one pt (3.3%; RECIST). Seventeen pts obtained SD (56.7%). Toxicity profiles were almost tolerable with the treatment interruption in 11 pts (median duration; 10 days). Skin rash was common (grades 1, 2 and 3 in 7, 15, and 7 pts, respectively; NCI-CTCAE ver3). One pt developed grade 4 pulmonary embolism, but it seemed due to disease progression. Other 2 pts developed interstitial lung disease (grades 2 and 3 in one pt each). No treatment-related deaths (TRD) occurred. With a median follow-up time of 6.4 months, MST and MPFS time were 8.6 and 2.1 months, respectively. Conclusions: This is a first prospective biomarker study showing that erlotinib therapy for pretreated pts with EGFRmt- tumors seems as almost effective and safe as the standard docetaxel therapy (PR: 5.8%, SD: 42.7%, MST: 7.0 months, MTTP: 2.5 months and TRD: 4.9% [Shepherd JCO2000]).

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A randomized phase II study of a combination of docetaxel and S-1 versus docetaxel monotherapy in pts with NSCLC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy: Results of Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group (OLCSG) trial 0503

8058

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that docetaxel (DOC) monotherapy provides a significant survival prolongation in relapsed pts with NSCLC. However, its benefit remains modest and further improvement is needed. S-1 is a newly developed oral 5-fluorouracil derivative, possessing a promising anti-tumor activity in NSCLC. Based on a superior effect of combination of DOC and 5-fluorouracil derivative (capecitabine) to DOC alone in anthracycline-pretreated breast cancer pts, we conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the clinical significance of adding S-1 to DOC in the second-line setting. Methods: Pts with relapsed NSCLC to the first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were randomly allocated to DOC monotherapy (A arm; 60 mg/m2, day 1, q 3 wks) or a combination chemotherapy (B arm) of DOC (40 mg/m2, day 1, q 3 wks) and S-1 (80 mg/m2, days 1 to 15). The doses of arm B were determined based on the results of a phase I study conducted for Japanese pts with gastric cancer (Anticancer Res 24: 1843, 2004). The primary endpoint was response rate and secondary endpoints included OS, PFS and toxicity. Results: Between 2005 and 2008, 60 pts were enrolled (A/B: 29/31 pts). Demographics of the pts were as follows: M/F: 49/11, Ad/others: 40/20, ECOG-PS 0/1: 38/22. A median number of courses administered was 4 (range: 1 to 6). Objective response was obtained in 6 (20.7%) and 5 pts (16.1%) in arms A and B, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 16.9 months, MST and median PFST in arm A were longer than arm B (22.9 vs. 8.7 months and 3.7 vs. 3.4 months, respectively). The major toxicity was myelosuppression, with grade 4 neutropenia of 62% vs. 29%, whereas thrombocytopenia was generally mild. Grade 3 febrile neutropenia was observed in 4 and 1 pts, none of whom further developed grade 5 toxicity. Other grade 3 or greater non-hematological adverse events included fever (B: 1 pt), pneumonitis (B: 1 pt), liver dysfunction (B: 2 pts), skin rash (B: 1 pt), and all of them were improved with an appropriate supportive care. Conclusions: The trial suggests that docetaxel monotherapy remains a standard therapy for NSCLC pts who relapsed to platinum-based chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A multicenter, phase III study of carboplatin/paclitaxel versus oral uracil-tegafur as the adjuvant chemotherapy in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Planned interim analyses

7560

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy provides a survival benefit in patients with resected NSCLC. In Japan, uracil-tegafur has been recognized as a standard adjuvant strategy for resected NSCLC, however, carboplatin based adjuvant chemotherapy has not been fully evaluated for the treatment of NSCLC patients in an adjuvant setting. The present phase III study assessed the efficacy and safety of carboplatin/paclitaxel and oral uracil-tegafur as the first study to compare intravenous and oral drugs in resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC. Methods: The patients with pathological stage IB-IIIA NSCLC who underwent complete resection were randomized 1:1 to carboplatin (AUC 5) /paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) every 3 week for 4 cycles (A arm) or uracil-tegafur (250 mg/m2) daily for 2 years (B arm). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints were disease-free survival and toxicity. The accrual of 200 patients per arm is required to demonstrate an improvement of OS (15% increase) in the A arm compared to B arm. Randomization was stratified by histology and tumor stage. An interim analysis was planned to perform on the first 200 patients recruited and data of survival and toxicity were examined in the first 100 patients. Results: Between November 2004 and November 2008, 200 patients from 31 Japanese centers were randomized and the first 100 patients were included for interim analysis. Median age was 69 (range; 50–80) years. Ninety-eight patients had PS of 0–1 and 2 patients had PS of 2. Sixty-seven patients were male and 23 patients were female. Sixty patients had adenocarcinoma, 30 had squamous cell carcinoma, and 10 had other histologies. Disease stage was IB in 53, IIA in 14, IIB in 19, and IIIA in 14 patients. Toxicities observed during adjuvant chemotherapy were well tolerable. There was no toxic death. The median survival time of A and B arms combined was 4.1 year. Monitoring Committees approved to continue the present study. Conclusions: The present phase III trial with carboplatin/paclitaxel or uracil-tegafur is feasible with manageable toxicity. The study is on course to achieve its primary endpoint.

[Table: see text]

Results of 27 years of phase III trials for patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer

e19021

Background: Few studies have formally assessed whether treatment outcomes for patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) enrolled in Phase III trials have improved substantially over the years. This investigation determined the trends in the outcomes for the patients in those trials. Methods: We analyzed trials that were reported between January 1991 and August 2008. Phase III randomized controlled trials were eligible if they compared first-line, systemic chemotherapy for ED-SCLC. Data were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Results: We identified 55 trials initiated between 1980 and 2006, involving 10,407 patients with 116 chemotherapy arms. The number of randomized patients and the proportions of patients with good performance status (PS) increased with the passage of time. In the 1990s, increasing numbers of studies examined cisplatin-based regimens, especially cisplatin and etoposide (PE) regimens, while decreasing numbers examined cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine-based regimens. A scattergram of the parameters ‘year of trial initiation’ and ‘median survival time’ (MST) indicated that MST increased 0.024 months (0.71 days) per year (P = 0.198). The multiple regression analysis showed no significant survival improvement over the years (regression coefficient for the year of trial initiation = 0.004, P = 0.980). In addition, the use of PE regimens did not prolong survival, whilst the proportion of good PS patients and the assignment of prophylactic cranial irradiation were significantly associated with favorable outcomes. Conclusions: The survival of patients with ED-SCLC enrolled in phase III trials has not improved significantly over the years, suggesting the need for a breakthrough, such as the discovery of novel molecular targets.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

S-1-based concomitant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Two phase I trials from Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group (OLCSG)

7547

Background: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but the treatment outcomes have remained unsatisfied. Thus, more effective and feasible CRT is urgently needed to improve their survival. S-1 is a newly developed oral 5-fluorouracil derivative and has synergistic effects with radiation. However, the role of S-1 in CRT for LA-NSCLC has been undetermined. Methods: We conducted two phase I trials to define the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of S-1-based chemotherapy when combined with concurrent thoracic radiation (total dose of 60 Gy with 2 Gy per daily fraction) for LA-NSCLC. OLCSG 0501 was designed to evaluate the two cycles of combination of S-1 (days 1–14) and cisplatin (days 1 and 8) for patients aged 75 or younger. S-1/cisplatin dosages (mg/m2) were escalated as follows: 60/30, 60/40, 70/40, 80/40, and 80/50. The other trial, OLCSG 0502, recruited patients aged 76 or older and evaluated S-1 alone. S-1 dosages (mg/m2) were increased as follows: 60, 70, and 80. Results: A total of 44 previously untreated LA-NSCLC patients were enrolled (22 in both trials). The MTDs for S-1/cisplatin and S-1 alone were determined to be 80 mg/m2/day / 50 mg/m2 and 80 mg/m2/day, respectively. In the OLCSG 0501, DLTs included febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, bacterial pneumonia and delayed second cycle of chemotherapy. No patient experienced grade 3 or more acute radiation pneumonitis and only one patient experienced grade 3 radiation esophagitis. In the OLCSG 0502, the DLTs were febrile neutropenia, stomatitis and delayed second cycle of chemotherapy. The overall response rates in OLCSG 0501 and OLCSG 0502 were 86.4% and 59.1%, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate that S-1-based concomitant CRT would be a feasible treatment option and further phase II trials are currently under way.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Association between incremental gains in the objective response rate and survival improvement in phase III trials of first-line chemotherapy for extensive disease small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The duration of, resources required for and cost of clinical trials could be reduced if a surrogate end point was to be used in place of survival. We assessed the extent to which the objective response rate (ORR) is predictive of mortality, how much difference in the ORR is needed to predict an obvious survival difference and what factors could affect the association between the two parameters during the first-line treatment of extensive disease (ED)-small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

We used the ORRs and median survival times (MSTs) from 48 phase III trials of first-line chemotherapy involving 8779 randomised patients with ED-SCLC in a linear regression analysis. The MST difference was calculated as the difference in MST between the investigational and reference arms; the ORR difference was similarly defined.

RESULTS

ORR difference between the treatment arms was modestly associated with the MST difference in the overall trials (R(2) = 0.3314). In contrast, the relationship was stronger among only trials in which prophylactic cranial irradiation was given to those having an objective response to the initial chemotherapy (R(2) = 0.6279). In this trial setting, large differences in ORR were needed to predict a survival advantage (1.2-day survival advantage per 2% increase in ORR).

CONCLUSIONS

In the first-line treatment of ED-SCLC, a favourable relationship was detected between the two parameters in the selected trial setting. Large ORR differences were needed to predict a survival benefit, clearly suggesting the need for new chemotherapeutic agents.