A randomised phase II study of weekly paclitaxel or vinorelbine in combination with cisplatin against inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer previously untreated

Real world results of locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer patients treated with platinum doublet chemotherapy in first line: Moroccan cohort

BACKGROUND

Doublet platin-chemotherapy was the old standard treatment for different histology types of advanced and metastatic lung cancer (LC) and is still an option for patients who are not eligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, in low- and middle-income countries, chemotherapy, either in monotherapy or in combination with platinum, is still the only accessible option in public institutions. The efficacy of different platin-based chemotherapy in patients with LC who are treatment-naïve is unknown.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we selected patients with advanced and metastatic (IIIB-IVB) non-squamous non-small cell LC (NSCLC), squamous NSCLC, and lung neuroendocrine tumours (small cell LC (SCLC), large cell neuroendocrine, and atypical carcinoid) aged beyond 18 years who received first-line chemotherapy (docetaxel, gemcitabine, etoposide, paclitaxel, pemetrexed, and vinorelbine) combined with platinum between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Within the population with non-squamous NSCLC, squamous NSCLC, and neuroendocrine tumours, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were the primary assessed endpoints. Hematologic safety was the secondary endpoint.

RESULTS

Overall, 611 patients were included. In the group of patients with non-squamous NSCLC (n = 390), there was no statistical difference between subgroups of patients who received first-line platin-chemotherapy. The median PFS was 182 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 167-208) days (hazard ratio for progression: NR [Not Reached]; p = 0.37), and the median OS was 446 (95 % CI, 405-559) days (hazard ratio for death: 1.31; 95 % CI, 0.94 - 1.82; p = 0.1). In the group of patients with squamous NSCLC (n = 149), we note the absence of statistical significance between subgroups of patients who received platin-based chemotherapy. The median PFS was 195 (95 % CI, 142-238; hazard ratio for progression: 1.21, 95 % CI, 0.29-5.02; p = 0.27), while the median OS was 428 (95 % CI, 324-940) days (hazard ratio for death: 1.76; 95 % CI, 0.93 to 3.3; p = 0.32). The absence of significance has been noticed in the neuroendocrine subgroup of patients who received first etoposide-platinum, vinorelbine-platinum, or paclitaxel-platinum (n = 72). The median PFS was 216 (95 % CI, 193-277) days; hazard ratio for progression: 1.74, 95 % CI, 0.41-7.27; p = 0.69, while the median OS was 273 (95 % CI, 241-459) days (hazard ratio for death: 2.95; 95 % CI, 0.4-21.7; p = 0.51). Grade 3-4 neutropenia grade was the predominant adverse event associated with chemotherapy in almost 11 % of patients.

CONCLUSION

Moving forward, treatment strategies must be refined for patients, with an emphasis on increasing the number of patients who can benefit from emergent approaches in order to guarantee a wider, deeper, and longer-lasting outcome.

Changes and Influential Factors of Chemotherapy Usage for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in China: A Multicenter 10-Year (2005-2014) Retrospective Study

Background

Chemotherapy has improved the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients over the past few decades. However, there have not been any epidemiological studies on chemotherapy for Chinese NSCLC patients.

Patients and Methods

The patients diagnosed as primary lung cancer between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014, in eight hospitals from eight provinces in China were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical history systems. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the changes of chemotherapy usage and influential factors.

Results

A total of 7184 lung cancer cases were eligible, among which 6481 NSCLC cases were included in this analysis. Among stage I/II patients, the percentages of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy did not change significantly between the earlier (28.5%) and the latter five years (25.7%) (p = 0.1288). Among stage IIIA patients, the percentages of chemotherapy usage did not change significantly between the earlier and the latter five years in neo-adjuvant (7.5% vs 5.6%, p = 0.1478) and adjuvant (23.1% vs 26.8%, p = 0.1129) treatment. The proportions of first-line platinum-based doublets for stage IIIB/IV patients changed significantly over the 10 years (p < 0.0001). Patients from provinces with inferior gross domestic product, with lower medical reimbursement rates and without smoking history were more likely to use the docetaxel/paclitaxel doublets, comparing with the gemcitabine doublets.

Conclusion

From 2005 to 2014, there was no significant change in the chemotherapy pattern of early NSCLC. Economic factors mainly contributed to the significant changes in the first-line chemotherapy regimen selection for advanced patients.

Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Treatment in Advanced NSCLC: A Retrospective Evaluation Including Elderly Patients

Background

Carboplatin-containing regimens are sometimes preferred for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods

Eighty-three patients with stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer received 3 to 4 cycles of carboplatin AUC 5 on day 2 and gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 21 days.

Results

The overall response rate was 43.4%. Results obtained from elderly and non-elderly groups were compared using the logrank method. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 11 and 7 months, respectively (12 and 7 months, non-elderly group; 6.5 and 5 months, elderly group, P = 0.28 and 0.25 respectively). Grade 3–4 toxicity included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea. Incidences of grade 3–4 toxicity were similar for elderly and non-elderly patients.

Conclusions

Data confirm that carboplatin-gemcitabine is an active and well-tolerated regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer and could be investigated in elderly patients.

A systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of first-line chemotherapy for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

Our aim was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments currently licensed in Europe and recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2001 to 2010 was carried out. Relative treatment effects for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using standard meta-analysis and mixed treatment comparison methodology. A total of 23 RCTs were included: 18 trials compared platinum-based chemotherapy, two compared pemetrexed and three compared gefitinib. There are no statistically significant differences in OS between any of the four third-generation chemotherapy regimens. There is statistically significant evidence that pemetrexed+platinum increases OS compared with gemcitabine+platinum. There are no statistically significant differences in OS between gefitinib and docetaxel+platinum or between gefitinib and paclitaxel+platinum. There is a statistically significant improvement in PFS with gefitinib compared with docetaxel+platinum and gefitinib compared with paclitaxel+platinum. Due to reduced generic pricing, third-generation chemotherapy regimens (except vinorelbine) are still competitive options for most patients. This research provides a comprehensive evidence base, which clinicians and decision-makers can use when deciding on the optimal first-line chemotherapy treatment regimen for patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC.

The effect of chemotherapy on symptom control and quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Differences in survival outcomes with various treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer are very modest. Despite this, end points looking at the patients' subjective benefit, such as symptom control, quality of life or clinical benefit, have only been sparsely implemented into clinical trials as primary points of interest. This review focuses on available evidence regarding these patients' subjective end points in recent clinical trials. Compared with best supportive care, chemotherapy offers symptom control, not only in patients with objective response to chemotherapy, but also in a proportion of patients with disease stabilization. However, interpretation of quality-of-life objectives is more difficult, owing to several methodological problems, but improvement in various domains of quality of life is also reported. Different treatment options, such as older platinum-based schedules, modern platinum-based doublets, single-agent treatment with a new drug or nonplatinum-based doublets, are comprehensively reviewed. Future randomized studies should take up the challenge of looking at the patients' benefit as a primary end point.

Prognostic implications of epidermal growth factor receptor and KRAS gene mutations and epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy numbers in patients with surgically resectable non-small cell lung cancer in Taiwan

INTRODUCTION

The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with surgically resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment has not been well established, because the reports are still few.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed the survival data of 164 patients with surgically resectable (stages I to IIIA) NSCLC of two year groups (1996-1998 and 2002-2004), and compared with EGFR mutations, KRAS mutations, and EGFR gene copy numbers.

RESULTS

Comparing the survival of wild-type patients and patients having L858R mutations or exon 19 deletion, the median survival was much longer for patient with EGFR mutations (54.7 months) than wild type (34.9 months). The difference was not statistically significant by univariate analysis (p = 0.1981) but had borderline significance by multivariate analyses (p = 0.0506). In addition, the 3-year survival rates of patients with EGFR mutations were also significantly higher than wild type (p = 0.0232). After exclusion of 18 patients treated by EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor for tumor recurrence, the trends were still the same. Patients with KRAS mutations had shorter median survival (21 months) than wild type (44.4 months). Patients with EGFR polysomy (>==copies) also had longer median survival (56.2 months) than wild type (53.4 months). But the survival differences of these two genetic markers were all not significant statistically.

CONCLUSION

It is intriguing that patients with NSCLC with EGFR mutations had better survival than wild type. Such a tumor biology may confound the survival data in a study without the stratification by EGFR mutation.

Reversed mutation rates of KRAS and EGFR genes in adenocarcinoma of the lung in Taiwan and their implications

BACKGROUND

In western countries, the Kirsten ras oncogene homolog gene (KRAS) mutation rate is high in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in those with adenocarcinoma (30%-50%), but the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) mutation rate is very low (3%-8%). In addition, KRAS mutations reportedly were associated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) resistance. In Taiwan, high EGFR mutation rates associated with high EGFR-TKI response rates in patients with NSCLC have been reported; however, KRAS mutation data are limited and have not been correlated with TKI response.

METHODS

KRAS mutation analysis was performed on 237 NSCLC specimens, and the results were correlated with clinicopathologic features. All but 2 tumors also underwent EGFR mutation analysis.

RESULTS

KRAS mutations were identified in only 9 of 237 patients (3.80%). Five patients were women who were nonsmokers, and 4 patients were men who were ever-smokers. The mutation rate was 5.03% in patients with adenocarcinoma (8 of 159 patients) and 1.56% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (1 of 64 patients). Four mutations were G12V, 3 mutations were G12D, 1 mutation was L19F, and 1 was the duplication insertion mutation dupT50_M72. In contrast, EGFR mutations were detected in 96 of 235 patients (40.8%) and in 90 of 157 adenocarcinomas (57.3%). None of the KRAS mutations coexisted with EGFR mutations. KRAS mutations were not associated significantly with any clinicopathologic characteristics, including smoking status. Among the 53 patients who had received TKI monotreatment, only 1 patient had a KRAS mutation and had progressive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The KRAS mutation rate was too low to play a significant role in TKI resistance or tumorigenesis among Taiwanese patients with NSCLC, which was the complete reverse of the results reported in western countries.

Phase II randomized study of daily gefitinib treatment alone or with vinorelbine every 2 weeks in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed at least 2 regimens of chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of adding chronic, intermittent, low-dose vinorelbine to gefitinib treatment for patients who had adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed>or=2 regimens of chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients were randomized into 2 arms: Oral gefitinib 250 mg daily (the G arm) or vinorelbine 15 mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion on Day 1 and oral gefitinib 250 mg daily on Days 2 through 14 every 2 weeks (the GV arm). From August 2004 to October 2005, 48 patients were enrolled. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 18 through 21 nucleotide sequence analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed in patients who had tumor tissue specimens available for analysis.

RESULTS

After randomization, each arm had 24 patients. However, 3 patients refused vinorelbine treatment and were given gefitinib treatment only. Thus, 27 patients received G treatment, and 21 patients received GV treatment. Objective response rates were 55.6% in the G arm and 52.4% in the GV arm. All toxicities in both arms were mild. The 1-year progression-free survival rate was 57.1% in the GV arm and 21.2% in the G arm (P=.008). The median survival was 13.3 months in the G arm and 23.4 months in the GV arm (P=.1231). Three of 6 patients (50%) had an exon 19 in-frame deletion, and 2 of 10 patients had EGFR gene high polysomy or amplification (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

Gefitinib was highly effective in ethnic Chinese patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed previous platinum and taxane treatment. The addition of low-dose vinorelbine every 2 weeks produced a significantly better 1-year progression-free survival rate.

A randomized phase II study of docetaxel or vinorelbine in combination with cisplatin against inoperable, chemo-naïve non-small-cell lung cancer in Taiwan

Cisplatin plus a third-generation anti-cancer drug, such as vinorelbine, gemcitabine, or the taxanes, are the standard regimen used in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and there is no significant difference in efficacy among the different regimens. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of docetaxel plus cisplatin (DC) versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin (VC) in chemo-naïve NSCLC patients. From December 2003 to May 2005, 94 patients were enrolled. The treatment dose was D 60 mg/m2 and C 60 mg/m2 intravenous infusion (IV) on day 1, or V 25 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8, and C 60 mg/m2 IV on day 1, every 3 weeks. In all, 209 cycles of DC and 230 cycles of VC were given to the patients in the DC (median five cycles) and VC (median five cycles) arms, respectively. There were 19 partial responses and one complete response (overall 43.5%) in the DC arm, and no complete responses, but 22 partial responses (overall 45.8%), in the VC arm. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity occurring in both arms, with grades 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 72.9% and 71.7% of patients, respectively. Except for alopecia (p=0.005) and diarrhea (p<0.001), which were more common in the DC arm, no significant differences in toxicity profiles were found between the two treatment arms. The median time to disease progression was 4.7 months in the DC arm and 6.3 months in the VC arm (p=0.7355). Median survival time was 13 months in the DC arm and 13.8 months in the VC arm (p=0.9656). The 1-year survival rate was 55.5% and 51.7%, respectively. After treatment, the Lung Cancer Symptom Scales showed no significant difference between the two treatment arms. We concluded that both DC and VC are appropriate regimens for use in the first-line treatment of Chinese NSCLC patients. Asthenia, one of the major side effects of docetaxel, was not a major problem in the present study. Although both regimens produced a high incidence of severe neutropenia, the majority of patients recovered rapidly without sequelae; and VC treatment is still a standard chemotherapy for Chinese NSCLC patients in Taiwan.

Chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the appropriate chemotherapy regimen for inoperable, chemotherapy-naïve non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in elderly patients.

SETTING

National teaching hospital in Taiwan.

DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed data from our clinical trials for a total of 270 patients and compared them with the data from other studies, addressing the elderly in particular or providing subgroup information on age, to analyze the feasibility of current chemotherapy options for elderly patients and possible alternative approaches.

RESULTS

The response rates and median survival times of fit elderly patients with NSCLC who were receiving appropriate new anticancer drugs for chemotherapy, including single-agent or combination treatment, were no worse than those of younger patients, and the response rates may have been even higher in the elderly patients, while survival time was slightly poorer in this group. The risk of adverse side effects, such as myelosuppression and peripheral neuropathy, may be higher in elderly patients, who also visit the hospital more frequently. Some items on the lung cancer symptom scale for elderly patients were rated as being slightly worse than those for younger patients after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Advanced age alone should not preclude chemotherapy. New single-agent drugs, and non-platinum-based or platinum-based doublets, can all be considered as appropriate treatment for selected fit elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.

Taxanes as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and practice guideline

This evidence-based practice guideline on the use of paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere) as first-line treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who are candidates for palliative first-line chemotherapy is based on a systematic search and review of literature published in full or in abstract form between 1985 and April 2005. Forty-five randomized trials, including 11 abstracts, were reviewed and clinicians in the province of Ontario, Canada, provided feedback on a draft version of the guideline. Two phase III trials detected a statistically significant survival advantage for a taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel) with best supportive care versus best supportive care alone. Among the nine fully published phase III trials comparing platinum-based chemotherapies, taxane-platinum combinations achieved higher response rates compared with older chemotherapy combinations, although significantly longer survival was observed only for docetaxel-cisplatin compared with vindesine-cisplatin. Response rates and survival were generally not significantly different for taxane-platinum combinations compared with other current chemotherapy combinations, although the toxicity profile of the regimens varied. However, in one large trial, improved tumor response and modest survival and quality of life benefits were associated with docetaxel-cisplatin compared with vinorelbine-cisplatin. No statistically significant survival differences were detected in the three fully published phase III trials comparing a taxane-gemcitabine combination with a taxane-platinum regimen.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(i) paclitaxel or docetaxel combined with cisplatin is recommended as one of a number of chemotherapy options for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in patients with a good performance status; (ii) carboplatin may be combined with a taxane if a patient is unable or unwilling to take cisplatin; (iii) a taxane-gemcitabine combination may be considered for patients with a contraindication to cisplatin and carboplatin; (iv) no firm recommendation can be made on the optimal dose and schedule of taxane-based chemotherapy; however, commonly used regimens include cisplatin 75 mg/m2 combined with either docetaxel 75 mg/m2 or paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 (24-h infusion) and carboplatin AUC 6 combined with paclitaxel 225 mg/m2 (3-h infusion); (v) a single-agent taxane may be used if combination chemotherapy is considered inappropriate.

A randomized phase II study of vinorelbine plus gemcitabine with/without cisplatin against inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer previously untreated

Phase II studies have suggested that vinorelbine (V) plus gemcitabine (G) treatment has a similar response rate and better toxicity profile than cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our aim was to evaluate whether or not the addition of cisplatin (P) to a VG regimen increases the efficacy or toxicities in chemo-naive inoperable NSCLC patients. From April 2002 to October 2003, 86 patients were enrolled. The treatment dose was V 20 mg/m2 plus G 800 mg/m2 intravenous infusion (i.v.) on days 1, 8 and 15, with/without P 60 mg/m2 i.v. on day 15, every 4 weeks. The efficacy and toxicity of the treatment were recorded. In all, 125 cycles of VG and 178 cycles of VGP were given to the patients in the VG and VGP arms, respectively (P = 0.001). The median cycle of treatment was three in the VG arm and five in the VGP arm. There were 10 partial responses (overall 23.3%) in the VG arm and 1 complete response and 19 partial responses (overall 46.5%) in the VGP arm (P = 0.022). Neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, and peripheral neuropathy were more common in the VGP arm (P = 0.023, 0.002, 0.025, 0.001, respectively). The Lung Cancer Symptom Scale showed no difference between the VG and VGP arms after two cycles of treatment or when the patient went off study. We concluded that the addition of P to VG treatment did increase both the tumor response rate and the toxicities. However, the toxicities were tolerable.