Continuation maintenance therapy with S-1 in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer

Maintenance therapy improves the survival outcomes of patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma responding to first-line chemotherapy: a multicentre, randomized controlled clinical study

PURPOSE

To explore the safety and role of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S1) maintenance therapy (MT) in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after response to first-line chemotherapy and to assess outcome-associated biomarkers.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, open-label, randomized controlled study involving metastatic NPC patients recruited (from May 2015 to May 2019) at five hospitals in China. The participants were randomized to S1-MT (receiving S1 MT until disease progression or intolerance) or non-MT (followed up until disease progression) groups. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were the overall survival (OS), the correlation between EBV-DNA, serum amyloid A (SAA) status, and outcomes after the first-line chemotherapy, and safety.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 24.3 months; 88 and 95 participants were evaluable in the S1-MT and non-MT groups, respectively. Compared with non-MT, S1-MT prolonged PFS (16.9 vs. 9.3 months, P < 0.001) and OS (33.6 vs. 20.6 months, P < 0.001). Regardless of their EBV-DNA status after first-line chemotherapy, participants were able to benefit from S1 MT, but EBV-DNA-positive participants benefited more significantly (PFS: HR = 0.600, 95% CI = 0.373-0.965, P = 0.035; OS: HR = 0.393, 95% CI = 0.227-0.681, P = 0.001). MT only improved PFS and OS in patients with an SAA decline after first-line chemotherapy (PFS: HR = 0.570, 95% CI = 0.350-0.919, P = 0.021; OS: HR = 0.404, 95% CI = 0.230-0.709, P = 0.002). The median S1 treatment was 23 cycles. Grade 1-2 skin pigmentation, oral mucositis, and hand and foot syndrome were the main adverse reactions.

CONCLUSION

For metastatic NPC patients with first-line chemotherapy response, S1 MT can improve PFS and OS, with good tolerability. EBV-DNA and SAA can better help us identify patients who can benefit from MT after standard treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-16007939).

Long-term response with low-dose of apatinib combined with S-1 in pretreated patient with advanced squamous cell lung cancer: A case report

RATIONALE

Squamous cell lung cancer is one of the major pathological types in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Since treatment with angiogenic agents and target drugs in patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer is not promising, there are limited strategies to improve the outcome in such patients. Herein, we report a pretreated patient with advanced squamous cell lung cancer, who received low-dose of apatinib combined with S-1 as salvage treatment, with good long-term response.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient complained of dry cough for one month without any relief by medication. Otherwise, she denied any other medical or family history.

DIAGNOSIS

According to the chest computed tomography, and pathologic findings from biopsy for lesion in lung, the patient was diagnosed with lung squamous cell lung cancer with enlargement of bilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes suggesting metastasis, staged as IIIb.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient received gemcitabine plus cisplatin as first line treatment, and gemcitabine as maintenance therapy. After progression, she received vinorelbine as second line treatment. After progression again, she received low-dose apatinib combined with S-1 as third line treatment.

OUTCOMES

With the follow-up period from October 21, 2014, to April 6, 2019, there were 15 months, 9 months, and 24 months of progression-free survival time for first line (including maintenance therapy), second line, and third line treatment, respectively. The only adverse event was neutropenia at grade 2 (CTC AE) occurring during the maintenance treatment.

LESSONS

This case indicated that low-dose apatinib combined with S-1 might be effective and safe in selected pretreated patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer. It might be worthy to conduct further researches to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy in such patients.

S-1 Maintenance Therapy in Extensive Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer-A Randomized Clinical Study

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer for its dismal prognosis although extensive research had been done. Four to 6 cycles platinum-based chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment for the extensive-stage disease; but the role of maintenance treatment is not fully understood. This is a phase 2, open-label study. Patients with extensive-stage SCLC reaching an objective response or stable disease (SD) after induction chemotherapy were randomly assigned (1:1) with a minimization procedure. One group received oral S-1 and the other group received placebo as maintenance treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary end point of this study was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary end points were overall survival (OS), response rates, and toxicities. This study was based on earlier work, the preliminary results was reported on 2019 ASCO annual meeting. A total of 89 patients were enrolled, of whom 45 received S-1 maintenance therapy and 44 received placebo. The median PFS and OS were 6.35 months and 10.82 months in the S-1 group, as compared to 5.98 months and 10.09 months in the placebo group. The PFS was 7.2 months and 5.3 months, and OS was 12.9 months and 10.9 months in patients with an objective response compared to in patients with SD after induction chemotherapy, respectively. S-1 maintenance therapy did not prolong PFS or OS in patients with extensive-stage SCLC; tumor regression rate was the prognostic factor of PFS or OS. Further research with novel agents in the maintenance setting is warranted.

Oral Maintenance Chemotherapy Using S-1/Capecitabine in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients After Systemic Chemotherapy: A Single-Institution Experience

Background

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated a series of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) patients who received oral maintenance chemotherapy using S-1/capecitabine after systemic chemotherapy and local radiation therapy, and aimed to explore potential efficient treatment strategies for this subset of patients.

Patients and Methods

Thirty-seven patients with mNPC (19 newly diagnosed metastatic patients and 18 metastatic cases after definitive chemoradiotherapy) who received the treatment strategies mentioned above were analyzed.

Results

After a median follow-up time of 37 months, the 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 47.6% and 87.7%, respectively. The median time to progression was 27.6 months, while the median OS was not reached at time of last follow-up. The most common acute adverse events were hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity, and all were tolerable and curable.

Conclusion

Oral maintenance chemotherapy using S-1/capecitabine in mNPC patients after systemic chemotherapy could yield a superb outcome. Further multicenter prospective clinical trials are warranted.

A Phase II Study of Tailored-dose S-1 Plus Carboplatin Followed by Maintenance S-1 for Advanced Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: OSAKA-LCSG 1102

Objective A subset analysis of the LETS study suggested that S-1 plus carboplatin was more beneficial than paclitaxel plus carboplatin in terms of the overall survival (OS) in squamous cell lung cancer. However, the benefit of maintenance therapy for squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is still unknown. We herein report a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a tailored dose of S-1 plus carboplatin followed by maintenance S-1 in chemotherapy-naive advanced squamous cell NSCLC. Methods Patients received carboplatin on day 1 plus S-1 on days 1 to 14 every 21 days. The dose of S-1 was determined by the body surface area and creatinine clearance. After four cycles of induction, non-progressive patients continued to receive S-1 until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint was an objective response rate (RR) with a threshold value of 15%. The secondary endpoints were the progression-free survival (PFS) and OS from enrollment, the PFS in the maintenance phase, and safety. Results In the 33 patients analyzed, the rate of patients who met the primary endpoint was 30.3% (95% confidence interval: 15.6-48.7%), and the disease control rate was 75.8%. The median PFS and OS were 3.5 and 11.3 months, respectively. Ten patients received maintenance S-1, and the median PFS from the beginning of induction treatment was 5.3 months. Grade 3/4 toxicities with a frequency of more than 5% were all controllable. Conclusion Tailored-dose S-1 plus carboplatin followed by maintenance S-1 is an effective and feasible treatment for advanced squamous cell NSCLC.

Switch maintenance therapy with S-1 after induction therapy with carboplatin and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma

Background Optimal maintenance therapy for lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switch maintenance therapy with S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine, after induction therapy with carboplatin and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced SCC. Methods Chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced SCC received induction therapy with four cycles of carboplatin (at an area under the curve of 6, day 1 of a 28-day cycle) and nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/kg, days 1, 8, and 15). Patients who achieved disease control after induction therapy received maintenance therapy with S-1 (80 mg/m², days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) from the start of maintenance therapy. Results Seventy-two patients with SCC were enrolled to the study. After four cycles of induction therapy, 35 (48.6%) patients achieved disease control, and 31 (43.1%) of these patients received maintenance therapy. Median PFS from the start of maintenance therapy was 3.0 months (95% confidence interval: 2.1-3.8 months). The most common toxicities of grade 3 or higher during maintenance therapy were nausea (13.3%), neutropenia (10.0%), and diarrhea (6.7%). Conclusions Switch maintenance therapy with S-1 after induction therapy with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel was associated with moderate efficacy and acceptable safety and may represent a feasible treatment option for patients with advanced SCC.

Phase I study of Nedaplatin, a platinum based antineoplastic drug, combined with nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer

Background This study was designed to determine the recommended dose of a combination of nedaplatin (NED) and nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Patients received escalating doses of NED on day 1 and nab-PTX on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks by an intravenous infusion for up to six cycles. Results A dose of 100 mg/m² NED and 100 mg/m² nab-PTX was determined to be the recommended dose for patients with advanced squamous NSCLC. The study had an overall response rate of 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.4-88.2) and disease control rate of 93.3% (95% CI: 68.1-99.8). The median progression-free survival time and survival time was 7.0 months (95% CI: 5.9-8.1) and 13.1 months (95% CI: 6.2-20.1), respectively. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (grade 3/4, 33%) and leukopenia (grade 3/4, 27%). Although peripheral neuropathy was observed in 5 patients (grade 1/2), non-hematological toxic effects were relatively mild. Febrile neutropenia, pneumonitis, and treatment-related death were not observed. Conclusions The combination of NED and nab-PTX was a tolerable and effective regimen and its recommended dose was 100 mg/m² and 100 mg/m², respectively, in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced squamous NSCLC (UMIN000010963).