Prospective phase II study of cisplatin plus pemetrexed with maintenance of pemetrexed for advanced non-squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer in Japan

A randomized, multicenter phase II study comparing efficacy, safety and tolerability of two dosing regimens of cisplatin and pemetrexed in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer

Background:

Pemetrexed and cisplatin is a first-line standard in non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer without targetable mutations. It became the backbone of checkpoint-inhibitor–chemotherapy combinations. Single high doses of cisplatin pose toxicity risks and require hyperhydration, potentially prolonging outpatient application. The aim of this study was to compare efficacy, safety and tolerability of split-dose cisplatin with the standard schedule.

Methods:

Patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer were randomly assigned to up to six 21-day cycles of pemetrexed 500 mg/m² and cisplatin 75 mg/m² on day 1 (arm A), or pemetrexed 500 mg/m² (day 1) and cisplatin 40 mg/m² (day 1 + 8, arm B), followed by pemetrexed maintenance. Primary endpoint was objective response rate. Secondary objectives were overall survival, progression-free survival, time to progression, treatment compliance, toxicity profile, and quality of life.

Results:

We enrolled 130 patients (129 evaluable). Median cycle numbers in A and B were six (1–6) and five (1–6). Dose intensities were comparable between arms. More patients in A received pemetrexed maintenance (24.2% versus 11.1%). With 16 (24.2%) in A and 19 (30.2%) patients in B achieving objective responses [odds ratio 0.74 (0.34–1.62), p = 0.55] the primary endpoint was met. Overall survival was not different between arms (median 14.4 versus 14.9 months); [HR = 1.07; (0.68–1.68), p = 0.78]. Median progression-free survival was 7.0 months in A and 6.2 months in B [HR = 1.63; (1.17–2.38); p = 0.01]. Adverse events of CTCAE grade ⩾3, particularly hematological, were more frequent in B. No difference in grade 4 and 5 infections between arms was noted. Treatment-related asthenia and nausea/vomiting of any grade were more frequent in A. Global health status, fatigue and constipation measured on day 1 of cycle 4 demonstrated superior scores in B.

Conclusion:

Pemetrexed and split-dose cisplatin is safe and effective. Advantages of split-dose cisplatin with regard to specific toxicities allow personalization of this important chemotherapy backbone.

Trial Registration:

European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) number 2011-001963-37.

Phase II trial of induction chemotherapy of pemetrexed plus split-dose cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance for untreated non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy of pemetrexed plus split-dose cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Patients with advanced or recurrent untreated non-squamous NSCLC received split-dose cisplatin (40 mg/m², days 1 and 8) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m², day 1) tri-weekly. After four cycles of induction, patients without disease progression received pemetrexed maintenance until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was the 1-year survival rate. The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), response in induction phase, and safety.

RESULTS

From February 2012 to September 2014, 53 assessable patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty-eight (71.7%) patients completed induction therapy, while 35 (66.0%) received maintenance therapy. The 1-year survival rate was 67.7%. The median PFS and OS were 5.3 and 18.6 months, respectively. The response rate and disease control rate (DCR) during the induction phase were 37.7 and 86.8%, respectively. Eight patients (15.1%) discontinued the therapy due to adverse events (AEs) during the induction phase, but both hematological and non-hematological AEs were infrequent.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with induction chemotherapy of pemetrexed plus split-dose cisplatin showed a promising 1-year survival rate, DCR, and transition rate into maintenance phase. This regimen is feasible and well-tolerated. A phase III study comparing this regimen with conventional tri-weekly regimen is warranted.