A randomized, phase 2 evaluation of the CHK1 inhibitor, LY2603618, administered in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

This phase 2 portion of a phase 1/2 study examined the efficacy and safety of LY2603618, a selective checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor, combined with pemetrexed and cisplatin (LY+Pem+Cis) in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label study (NCT01139775) enrolled patients with stage IV nonsquamous NSCLC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1. Patients were randomized (2:1) to LY+Pem+Cis or pemetrexed and cisplatin (Pem+Cis). Induction therapy comprised four 21-day cycles of 500 mg/m2 pemetrexed and 75mg/m2 cisplatin on Day 1 (both arms) and 275mg LY2603618 on Day 2 (LY+Pem+Cis arm). Maintenance therapy comprised 500mg/m2 pemetrexed on Day 1 (both arms) and 275mg LY2603618 on Day 2 (LY+Pem+Cis arm) until disease progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Enrollment was permanently halted before target enrollment was met due to a greater number of thromboembolic events in the LY+Pem+Cis arm. Sixty-two patients were enrolled (LY+Pem+Cis, n=39; Pem+Cis, n=23). Bayesian and frequentist analysis demonstrated superior PFS in the LY+Pem+Cis arm vs the Pem+Cis arm (median [90% confidence interval]: LY+Pem+Cis, 4.7 months [4.-7.1]; Pem+Cis, 1.5 months [1.3-2.9]; P=0.022). Seven patients in the LY+Pem+Cis arm (vs 0 in the Pem+Cis arm) experienced serious thromboembolic events: pulmonary embolism (n=5), ischemic stroke (n=1), and cerebrovascular accident (n=1). Although the primary endpoint was met, the combination of LY2603618+Pem+Cis will not be further developed for treating advanced nonsquamous NSCLC due to the potential increased risk of thromboembolic events with this combination. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01139775.

Efficacy of the irreversible ErbB family blocker afatinib in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease.

INTRODUCTION: Afatinib is an effective first-line treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has shown activity in patients progressing on EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). First-line afatinib is also effective in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. Here we report on outcomes of pretreated NSCLC patients with CNS metastasis who received afatinib within a compassionate use program. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC progressing after at least one line of chemotherapy and one line of EGFR-TKI treatment received afatinib. Medical history, patient demographics, EGFR mutational status, and adverse events including tumor progression were documented. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2013, 573 patients were enrolled and 541 treated with afatinib. One hundred patients (66% female; median age, 60 years) had brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal disease with 74% having documented EGFR mutation. Median time to treatment failure for patients with CNS metastasis was 3.6 months, and did not differ from a matched group of 100 patients without CNS metastasis. Thirty-five percent (11 of 31) of evaluable patients had a cerebral response, five (16%) responded exclusively in brain. Response duration (range) was 120 (21-395) days. Sixty-six percent (21 of 32) of patients had cerebral disease control on afatinib. Data from one patient with an impressive response showed an afatinib concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of nearly 1 nMol. CONCLUSION: Afatinib appears to penetrate into the CNS with concentrations high enough to have clinical effect on CNS metastases. Afatinib may therefore be an effective treatment for heavily pretreated patients with EGFR-mutated or EGFR-TKI-sensitive NSCLC and CNS metastasis.

Image-guided hypofractionated small volume radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer - feasibility and clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: Local hypofractionated stereotactic radiation treatment (hfSRT) of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a highly effective treatment alternative in medically inoperable patients. METHOD: Between June 2007 and December 2010, 65 patients with NSCLC were treated with image-guided hypofractionated radiotherapy. The Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) stage distribution was: IA, n = 19; IB, n = 15; IIB, n = 5; IIIA, n = 10; IIIB, n = 6; and IV, n = 10. The fractionation schedule used was 3 × 12.5 Gy (n = 36) prescribed to the encompassing 67% isodose line for peripheral primary tumours, and 8 × 6 Gy (n = 26) or 8 × 5 Gy (n = 3) prescribed to the encompassing 80% isodose line for centrally located tumours. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 13.8 months (range 1-41 months). Until now 6 patients developed a local recurrence, 2 of them in combination with mediastinal lymph node failure. The 1-year actuarial local control rate was 93% and overall survival 79%. Pneumonitis was seen in 14 patients (21.5%) (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade I: n = 12, and II: n = 2) after a median time period of 9.5 months. No patient developed pneumonitis of CTCAE grade III or higher. CONCLUSION: Image-guided hfSRT is effective and feasible in patients with non-operable NSCLC, even in higher stages, whenever local control is crucial and there are contraindications against systemic therapy.

Pemetrexed safety and pharmacokinetics in patients with third-space fluid.

PURPOSE: Pemetrexed is established as first-line treatment with cisplatin for malignant pleural mesothelioma and advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and as single-agent second-line treatment for nonsquamous NSCLC. Because the structure and pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed are similar to those of methotrexate, and methotrexate is associated with severe toxicity in patients with third-space fluid (TSF), the safety of pemetrexed in patients with TSF was evaluated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with TSF (pleural effusions, ascites) and relapsed, stage III/IV NSCLC or malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma were treated with pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. TSF was drained at any time only if clinically indicated. Plasma samples were collected during cycles 1 and 2 to compare pemetrexed concentrations with reference data from patients without TSF. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with TSF received 123 pemetrexed doses (median, 4 cycles per patient; range, 1-11; mean dose intensity, 97.5%). Seven grade 3/4 drug-related toxicities, including four hematologic, were reported; there were no treatment-related deaths. There was no correlation between TSF amount and type, number, and sequelae of toxicities. Pemetrexed plasma concentrations were within the range of those in patients without TSF. Pemetrexed clearance and central volume of distribution were not statistically different between patients with and without TSF. CONCLUSIONS: No clinically relevant alterations of pemetrexed pharmacokinetics occurred in patients with TSF. Pemetrexed was well tolerated; toxicities were expected and manageable. The standard pemetrexed dose recommendations were adequate for patients with TSF in this study. These data suggest that draining TSF before administering pemetrexed is unnecessary.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in chemonaive patients with locally advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma or non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Pemetrexed is approved as monotherapy and in combination with cisplatin. The established combination dose was identified before the addition of folic acid and vitamin B(12) to the treatment regimen. We evaluated the toxicity and pharmacokinetics (PK) of higher pemetrexed doses with cisplatin and vitamin supplementation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or non-small cell lung cancer received pemetrexed doses from 500 to 900 mg/m(2) + 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin once every 21 days. Folic acid and vitamin B(12) were administered per label recommendations. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients received a combined total of 84 cycles. The maximum tolerated dose was 900 mg/m(2) pemetrexed + 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin. Dose-limiting toxicities at this dose included grade 3 anemia, bronchopneumonia, and neutropenia, and 1 death from sepsis secondary to grade 4 febrile neutropenia, considered possibly related to study drugs. The recommended dose was 800 mg/m(2) pemetrexed + 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin. Pemetrexed PK were consistent across doses; pemetrexed did not seem to affect total or free platinum PK. CONCLUSIONS: Pemetrexed with vitamin supplementation was safe and well tolerated at higher doses than the currently established 500 mg/m(2) + 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin. Based on this study, the recommended dose would be 800 mg/m(2) pemetrexed + 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin. However, recent studies showed a lack of improved efficacy for 900 or 1,000 mg/m(2) single-agent pemetrexed versus 500 mg/m(2) and a lack of PK/pharmacodynamic exposure-response relationship for the pemetrexed/cisplatin combination across pemetrexed exposures corresponding to this dose range. Based on currently available evidence, we recommend retaining the established dose.