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IntroductionIn patients with NSCLC harboring oncogenic ALK or ROS1 rearrangements, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have yielded high response rates and improvements in progression-free survival compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy; however, acquired resistance eventually develops. In preclinical models, ALK and MEK coinhibition was able to overcome ALK inhibitor resistance.MethodsA phase 1 study of the ALK/ROS1 inhibitor ceritinib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib in patients with refractory NSCLC harboring ALK or ROS1 fusions was initiated. A three plus three dose-escalation scheme was used. Two dose levels were investigated. The primary end point was to determine the safety and tolerability of the combination.ResultsNine patients (n = 8 ALK+, n = 1 ROS1+) were enrolled in the study and completed at least one cycle of therapy. The most common adverse events (all grades) were diarrhea (n = 9; 100%), rash (n = 8; 89%), abdominal pain (n = 5; 56%), and elevated aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase level (n = 4; 44%). The overall response rate was 22%, whereas disease control rate was 56%. Median duration of response was 7.85 months. The median progression-free survival was 3.0 months (95% confidence interval: 1.5-7.0 mo). The median overall survival was 8.9 months (95% confidence interval: 2.0-not reached).ConclusionsData from this trial indicate that the combination of ceritinib and trametinib had no unexpected toxicities and that a tolerable dose could be identified. A subset of patients seemed to obtain clinical benefit from this treatment after progression on prior ALK/ROS1 inhibitor treatment.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03087448.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are an effective preclinical in vivo platform for testing the efficacy of novel drugs and drug combinations for cancer therapeutics. Here we describe a repository of 79 genomically and clinically annotated lung cancer PDXs available from The Jackson Laboratory that have been extensively characterized for histopathologic features, mutational profiles, gene expression, and copy-number aberrations. Most of the PDXs are models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 37 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and 33 lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) models. Other lung cancer models in the repository include four small cell carcinomas, two large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, two adenosquamous carcinomas, and one pleomorphic carcinoma. Models with both de novo and acquired resistance to targeted therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors are available in the collection. The genomic profiles of the LUAD and LUSC PDX models are consistent with those observed in patient tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas and previously characterized gene expression-based molecular subtypes. Clinically relevant mutations identified in the original patient tumors were confirmed in engrafted PDX tumors. Treatment studies performed in a subset of the models recapitulated the responses expected on the basis of the observed genomic profiles. These models therefore serve as a valuable preclinical platform for translational cancer research.SignificancePatient-derived xenografts of lung cancer retain key features observed in the originating patient tumors and show expected responses to treatment with standard-of-care agents, providing experimentally tractable and reproducible models for preclinical investigations.

PurposeAurora Kinase A (AKA) inhibition with gemcitabine represents a potentially synergistic cancer treatment strategy via mitotic catastrophe. The feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of alisertib (MLN8237), an oral AKA inhibitor, with gemcitabine was evaluated in this open-label phase I trial with dose escalation and expansion.MethodsKey inclusion criteria included advanced solid tumor with any number of prior chemotherapy regimens in the dose escalation phase, and advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma with up to two prior chemotherapy regimens. Four dose levels (DLs 1-4) of alisertib (20, 30, 40, or 50 mg) were evaluated in 3 + 3 design with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 in 28-day cycles.ResultsIn total, 21 subjects were treated in dose escalation and 5 subjects were treated in dose expansion at DL4. Dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 1 of 6 subjects each in DL3 and DL4. All subjects experienced treatment-related adverse events. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 73% of subjects, with neutropenia observed in 54%. Out of 22 subjects evaluable for response, 2 subjects (9%) had partial response and 14 subjects (64%) had stable disease. Median PFS was 4.1 months (95% CI 2.1-4.5). No significant changes in pharmacokinetic parameters for gemcitabine or its metabolite dFdU were observed with alisertib co-administration.ConclusionsThis trial established the recommended phase 2 dose of alisertib 50 mg to be combined with gemcitabine. Gemcitabine and alisertib are a feasible strategy with potential for disease control in multiple heavily pre-treated tumors, though gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity was apparent.

BackgroundOnalespib is a novel heat shock protein 90 inhibitor (HSP90i). Previous preclinical and clinical studies with HSP90i have demonstrated activity in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study sought to determine the safety and tolerability of onalespib plus erlotinib in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the combination in epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion (EGFRex20ins) NSCLC.Patients and methodsStandard 3+3 dose escalation was followed by a phase II expansion in EGFRex20ins. The phase II component targeted a response rate of 25% versus a background rate of 5%. Prospective next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 70 cancer-related genes, including EGFR, via plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was performed. Toxicity was graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4, and response was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) 1.1.ResultsEleven patients were treated (nine dose escalation, two dose expansion). Two dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred in dose level (DL) 0 and zero in DL -1 (minus). In 10 EGFRex20ins patients, no responses were observed, median progression-free survival was 5.4 months (95% confidence interval, 0.9-5.7), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 40% (median, 3.5 months). EGFRex20ins was detected in nine of 10 ctDNA samples at baseline; on-treatment ctDNA clearance was not observed. Grade 3 diarrhea was the predominant toxicity in 45% of patients. The recommended phase II dose is DL -1 (minus): erlotinib 150 mg orally every morning and onalespib 120 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days.ConclusionOverlapping toxicities of erlotinib and onalespib, mainly diarrhea, limited the tolerability of this combination, and limited clinical activity was observed, so the trial was closed early. Plasma EGFRex20ins ctDNA was detected in the majority of patients; failure to clear ctDNA was consistent with lack of tumor response (NCT02535338).

PurposeMET dysregulation is an oncogenic driver in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as a mechanism of TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) resistance in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated disease. This study was conducted to determine safety and preliminary efficacy of the combination EGFR and MET inhibitors as a strategy to overcome and/or delay EGFR-TKI resistance.MethodsA standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation trial of capmatinib in combination with erlotinib in patients with MET-positive NSCLC was used. Eighteen patients in the dose-escalation cohort received 100-600 mg twice daily of capmatinib with 100-150 mg daily of erlotinib. There were two dose-expansion cohorts. Cohort A included 12 patients with EGFR-mutant tumors resistant to TKIs. Cohort B included five patients with EGFR wild-type tumors. The primary outcome was to assess safety and determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of the combination.ResultsThe most common adverse events of any grade were rash (62.9%), fatigue (51%), and nausea (45.7%). Capmatinib exhibited nonlinear pharmacokinetics combined with erlotinib, while showing no significant drug interactions. The RP2D was 400 mg twice daily capmatinib tablets with 150 mg daily erlotinib. The overall response rate (ORR) and DCR in dose-expansion cohort A was 50% and 50%, respectively. In cohort B, the ORR and disease control rate were 75% and 75%.ConclusionCapmatinib in combination with erlotinib demonstrated safety profiles consistent with prior studies. We observed efficacy in specific patient populations. Continued evaluation of capmatinib plus EGFR-TKIs is warranted in patients with EGFR activating mutations.

PurposeAurora kinases are overexpressed or amplified in numerous malignancies. This study was designed to determine the safety and tolerability of the Aurora A kinase inhibitor alisertib (MLN8237) when combined with weekly irinotecan.MethodsIn this single-center phase 1 study, adult patients with refractory advanced solid tumors received 100 mg/m2 irinotecan intravenously on day 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Alisertib at planned escalating dose levels of 20-60 mg was administered orally twice per day on days 1-3 and 8-10. Patients homozygous for UGT1A1*28 were excluded. The primary objective was the safety of alisertib when combined with irinotecan to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives included overall response rate by RECIST and pharmacokinetics in a planned expansion cohort of patients with colorectal cancer treated at the MTD.ResultsA total of 17 patients enrolled at three dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicities included diarrhea, dehydration, and neutropenia. The MTD of alisertib combined with weekly irinotecan was 20 mg twice per day on days 1-3 and 8-10. One fatal cardiac arrest at the highest dose level tested was deemed possibly related to drug treatment. One partial response in 11 efficacy evaluable patients (9%) occurred in a patient with small cell lung cancer. The study was terminated prior to the planned expansion in patients with colorectal cancer.ConclusionIn contrast to prior results in a pediatric population, adult patients did not tolerate alisertib combined with irinotecan at clinically meaningful doses due to hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under study number NCT01923337 on Aug 15, 2013.

BackgroundWe conducted a 2-part study to evaluate the incorporation of veliparib, a PARP inhibitor, into chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.Patients and methodsIn the phase I part, patients were treated successively at 3 dose levels of veliparib (40, 80, and 120 mg) twice daily during CRT. In the phase II part, patients were randomized to receive veliparib or placebo during thoracic radiotherapy with concurrent weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by 2 cycles of consolidation carboplatin and paclitaxel with veliparib or placebo. The study was prematurely discontinued owing to the emergence of adjuvant immunotherapy as standard of care.ResultsOf 21 patients enrolled in phase I, 2 patients developed dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs): 1 grade 3 esophagitis with dysphagia (at 40 mg) and 1 grade 3 esophagitis with dehydration (at 80 mg). No DLTs were seen at veliparib dose of 120 mg twice daily, which was selected for the phase II part that enrolled 31 eligible patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) was not different between the 2 arms (P = .20). For the veliparib and placebo arms, response rates were 56% and 69%, PFS at 1 year 47% and 46%, and overall survival at 1 year 89% and 54%, respectively.ConclusionVeliparib with CRT was feasible and well tolerated. Efficacy could not accurately be determined because of early study closure. Nonetheless, there is enthusiasm for the evaluation of PARP inhibitors in lung cancer as predictive biomarkers are being developed and combinations with immunotherapy are attractive.

IntroductionLung-MAP S1400K was designed to evaluate the response to telisotuzumab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting c-MET, in patients with c-MET-positive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).Patients and methodsPatients with previously treated SCC with c-MET-positive tumors (H score ≥ 150, Ventana SP44 assay) were enrolled into 2 cohorts: Cohort 1 (immune checkpoint inhibitor-naive) and Cohort 2 (immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory). Telisotuzumab vedotin 2.7 mg/kg was administered intravenously every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response assessments were performed every 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, response within cohort, duration of response, and toxicities. Interim analysis was planned after 20 evaluable patients, with ≥ 3 responses needed to continue enrollment.ResultsForty-nine patients (14% of screened patients) were assigned to S1400K, 28 patients enrolled (15 in Cohort 1 and 13 in Cohort 2), and 23 were eligible. S1400K closed on December 21, 2018 owing to lack of efficacy. Two responses (response rate of 9%; 95% confidence interval, 0%-20%) were reported in cohort 1 (1 complete and 1 unconfirmed partial response), whereas 10 patients had stable disease, with a disease control rate of 52%. The median overall and progression-free survival was 5.6 and 2.4 months, respectively. There were 3 grade 5 events (2 pneumonitis, in Cohort 2, and 1 bronchopulmonary hemorrhage, in Cohort 1).ConclusionTelisotuzumab vedotin failed to meet the pre-specified response needed to justify continuing enrollment to S1400K. Pneumonitis was an unanticipated toxicity observed in patients with SCC.

IntroductionThere are currently no approved targeted therapies for lung squamous-cell carcinoma (LSCC) and KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). About 30% of LSCC and 25% of KRAS-mutant LUAD exhibit hyperactive NRF2 pathway activation through mutations in NFE2L2 (the gene encoding NRF2) or its negative regulator, KEAP1. Preclinical data demonstrate that these tumors are uniquely sensitive to dual inhibition of glycolysis and glutaminolysis via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and glutaminase inhibitors. This phase 1 study was designed to assess safety and preliminary activity of the mTOR inhibitor MLN0128 (sapanisertib) in combination with the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 HCl.MethodsPhase 1 dose finding will use the queue-based variation of the 3 + 3 dose escalation scheme with the primary endpoint of identifying the recommended expansion dose. To confirm the acceptable tolerability of the recommended expansion dose, patients will subsequently enroll onto 1 of 4 expansion cohorts (n = 14 per cohort): (1) LSCC harboring NFE2L2 or (2) KEAP1 mutations, or (3) LUAD harboring KRAS/(KEAP1 or NFE2L2) coalterations, or (4) LSCC wild type for NFE2L2 and KEAP1. The primary endpoint of the dose expansion is to determine the preliminary efficacy of MLN0128/CB-839 combination therapy.ConclusionThis phase 1 study will determine the recommended expansion dose and preliminary efficacy of MLN0128 and CB-839 in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with a focus on subsets of LSCC and KRAS-mutant LUAD harboring NFE2L2 or KEAP1 mutations.

PurposeThe irreversible ErbB family tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) afatinib plus the EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab was previously shown to overcome resistance to EGFR TKIs. We studied whether the combination of afatinib plus cetuximab compared with afatinib alone would improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with treatment-naive EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by preventing or delaying resistance.MethodsPatients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC without prior treatment of advanced disease were enrolled in this phase II, multicenter trial and randomly assigned to receive afatinib 40 mg orally daily plus cetuximab 500 mg/m2 intravenously every 2 weeks or afatinib alone. The primary end point was PFS.ResultsBetween March 25, 2015 and April 23, 2018, 174 patients were randomly assigned, and 168 (83 on afatinib + cetuximab and 85 on afatinib) were eligible. There was no improvement in PFS in patients receiving afatinib plus cetuximab compared with afatinib alone (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.43; P = .94; median, 11.9 months v 13.4 months). Similarly, there was no difference in response rate (67% v 74%; P = .38) or overall survival (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.36; P = .44). Toxicity was greater with the combination: grade ≥ 3 adverse events related to treatment occurred in 72% of patients receiving afatinib plus cetuximab compared with 40% of those receiving afatinib alone, most commonly rash and diarrhea. Dose reductions were more common in patients receiving the combination, and 30% of patients in this arm discontinued cetuximab due to toxicity. At interim analysis, there was insufficient evidence to support continued accrual, and the trial was closed.ConclusionsThe addition of cetuximab to afatinib did not improve outcomes in previously untreated EGFR-mutant NSCLC, despite recognized activity in the acquired resistance setting.

IntroductionApproximately 4% of NSCLC harbor BRAF mutations, and approximately 50% of these are non-V600 mutations. Treatment of tumors harboring non-V600 mutations is challenging because of functional heterogeneity and lack of knowledge regarding their clinical significance and response to targeted agents.MethodsWe conducted an integrative analysis of BRAF non-V600 mutations using genomic profiles of BRAF-mutant NSCLC from the Guardant360 database. BRAF mutations were categorized by clonality and class (1 and 2: RAS-independent; 3: RAS-dependent). Cell viability assays were performed in Ba/F3 models. Drug screens were performed in NSCLC cell lines.ResultsA total of 305 unique BRAF mutations were identified. Missense mutations were most common (276, 90%), and 45% were variants of unknown significance. F468S and N581Y were identified as novel activating mutations. Class 1 to 3 mutations had higher clonality than mutations of unknown class (p < 0.01). Three patients were treated with MEK with or without BRAF inhibitors. Patients harboring G469V and D594G mutations did not respond, whereas a patient with the L597R mutation had a durable response. Trametinib with or without dabrafenib, LXH254, and lifirafenib had more potent inhibition of BRAF non-V600-mutant NSCLC cell lines than other MEK, BRAF, and ERK inhibitors, comparable with the inhibition of BRAF V600E cell line.ConclusionsIn BRAF-mutant NSCLC, clonality is higher in known functional mutations and may allow identification of variants of unknown significance that are more likely to be oncogenic drivers. Our data indicate that certain non-V600 mutations are responsive to MEK and BRAF inhibitors. This integration of genomic profiling and drug sensitivity may guide the treatment for BRAF-mutant NSCLC.

BackgroundS1400B is a biomarker-driven Lung-MAP substudy evaluating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor taselisib (GDC-0032) in patients with PI3K pathway-activated squamous NSCLC (sqNSCLC).MethodsEligible patients had tumoral phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate 3 kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) alterations by next-generation sequencing and disease progression after at least one line of platinum-based therapy. Patients received 4-mg taselisib orally daily. The primary analysis population (PAP) was a subset of patients having substitution mutations believed to be associated with clinical benefit of PI3K inhibitors. Primary endpoint was response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival and duration of response.ResultsTwenty-six patients treated with taselisib comprised the full evaluable population (FEP); 21 patients comprised the PAP. Median age for patients in the FEP was 68 years (range: 53-83 years), 19 were male (73%). The study was closed for futility at interim analysis with one responder in the PAP (5% response rate, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%-24%). Two possibly treatment-related deaths (one respiratory failure, one cardiac arrest) were observed; one patient had grades 4 and 11 had grade 3 adverse events. Median progression-free survival and overall survival in the PAP group were 2.9 months (95% CI: 1.8-4.0 mo) and 5.9 months (95% CI: 4.2-7.8 mo), respectively. These numbers were nearly the same in the FEP.ConclusionsStudy S1400B evaluating taselisib in PIK3CA-altered sqNSCLC failed to meet its primary endpoint and was closed after an interim futility analysis. The trial is unique in cataloguing the diversity of PIK3CA mutations in sqNSCLC.

BackgroundS1400D is a biomarker-driven therapeutic substudy of Lung-MAP evaluating the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) inhibitor AZD4547 in patients with FGF pathway-activated squamous cell. This is the first phase II trial to evaluate AZD4547 as a targeted approach in patients with previously treated FGFR-altered squamous cell NSCLC and is the first demonstration of successful implementation and conduct of a national umbrella protocol in this disease setting.MethodsEligible patients had tumoral FGFR alteration or mutation and had progressive disease after at least one line of platinum-based systemic therapy. Patients received AZD4547 80 mg twice daily orally. Primary endpoint was response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, and duration of response (DoR).ResultsNinety-two patients were assigned to S1400D, 43 were enrolled, and 27 AZD4547-treated patients were evaluable. Evaluable patients were predominantly white (n = 24, 89%), median age 66 years (range, 49-88 years old), and female (n = 7, 26%). FGFR alterations included FGFR1 amplification (n = 23; 85%), FGFR3 amplification (n = 2; 7%), FGFR3 S249C (n = 2; 7%), and FGFR3 fusion (n = 1; 4%). Treatment with ADZ4547 was well tolerated; grade 3 adverse events occurred in six patients, and one patient had grade 4 sepsis. Of 27 response-evaluable patients, 1 patient with FGFR3 S249C had unconfirmed partial response with a DoR of 1.5 months and 1 patient with FGFR1 amplification had a confirmed partial response with a DoR of 2.9 months (7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%-17%). Median progression-free survival and overall survival for the AZD4547-treated cohort were 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.4- 4.5 months) and 7.5 months (95% CI: 3.7-9.3 months).ConclusionsAZD4547 had an acceptable safety profile but minimal activity in this predominantly FGFR1/FGFR3-amplified cohort. Evaluation of other targeted agents in Lung-MAP is ongoing.

PurposeAntiangiogenic agents combined with chemotherapy have efficacy in the treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Cediranib (AstraZeneca, Cheshire, United Kingdom), a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor, demonstrated therapeutic potential in a prior phase I trial. We evaluated a phase II trial for efficacy.Patients and methodsSWOG S0905 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01064648) randomly assigned cediranib or placebo with platinum-pemetrexed for six cycles followed by maintenance cediranib or placebo in unresectable chemotherapy-naïve patients with MPM of any histologic subtype. Primary end point was Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival, PFS by modified RECIST v1.1, response (modified RECIST and RECIST v1.1), disease control, and safety/toxicity. The trial was designed to detect a difference in RECIST v1.1 PFS at the one-sided 0.1 level using a stratified log-rank test.ResultsNinety-two eligible patients were enrolled (75% epithelioid and 25% biphasic or sarcomatoid). The cediranib arm had more grade 3 and 4 diarrhea, dehydration, hypertension, and weight loss. Cediranib improved PFS by RECIST v1.1 (hazard ratio, 0.71; 80% CI, 0.54 to 0.95; P = .062; 7.2 months v 5.6 months) and increased modified RECIST v1.1 response (50% v 20%; P = .006). By modified RECIST v1.1, cediranib numerically increased PFS (hazard ratio, 0.77; 80% CI, 0.59 to 1.02; P = .12; median, 6.9 months v 5.6 months). No significant difference in overall survival was observed.ConclusionThe addition of cediranib to platinum-pemetrexed improved PFS by RECIST v1.1 and response rate by modified RECIST in patients with unresectable MPM. Whereas adding antiangiogenics to chemotherapy has been a successful strategy for some patients, the cediranib toxicity profile and small incremental survival benefit precludes additional development in MPM.

ObjectiveLung-MAP (SWOG S1400) is a master platform trial assessing targeted therapies in squamous NSCLC. The objective of study C (S1400C) was to evaluate the response rate to palbociclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 inhibitor, in patients with cell cycle gene abnormalities.MethodsPatients with squamous NSCLC, a performance status of 0 to 2, and normal organ function who had progressed after at least one prior platinum-based chemotherapy with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 gene (CDK4) or cyclin D1 gene (CCND1), cyclin D2 gene (CCND2), or cyclin D3 gene (CCND3) amplifications on tumor specimens were eligible. The study was originally designed as a phase II/III trial comparing palbociclib with docetaxel, but it was modified to a single-arm phase II trial with the primary end point of response when immunotherapy was approved. If two or fewer responses were seen in the first 20 patients, then the study would cease enrollment.ResultsA total of 88 patients (9% of patients screened) were assigned to S1400C, and 53 patients enrolled (including 17 to receive docetaxel). One patient who had been registered to receive docetaxel was re-registered to receive palbociclib after progression while taking docetaxel. The frequencies of cell cycle gene alterations in the eligible patients taking palbociclib (n = 32) were as follows: CCND1, 81% (n = 26); CCND2, 9% (n = 3); CCND3, 6% (n = 2); and CDK4, 3% (n = 1). In all, 32 eligible patients received palbociclib. There were two partial responses (response rate 6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0%-15%]), both with CCND1 amplification. Twelve patients had stable disease (38% [95% CI: 21%-54%]). The median progression-free survival was 1.7 months (95% CI: 1.6-2.9 months) and the median overall survival was 7.1 months (95% CI: 4.2-12.5).ConclusionPalbociclib as monotherapy failed to demonstrate the prespecified criteria for advancement to phase III testing.

Introduction: Mesenchymal epidermal transition and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways are important in mediating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumorigenesis and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. We hypothesized that treatment with cabozantinib plus erlotinib in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC following progression on EGFR TKI therapy may allow tumors to overcome this resistance or restore sensitivity to therapy regardless of T790M status. Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC, known EGFR mutation and progressive disease on an EGFR TKI immediately prior to enrollment without intervening therapy were enrolled. Patients received erlotinib 150 mg and cabozantinib 40 mg daily. The primary endpoint was evaluation of efficacy by objective response rate. Secondary endpoints included assessment of progression free survival (PFS), overall survival, change in tumor growth rate, safety and toxicity, and the evaluation of specific EGFR mutations and MET amplification in pre-treatment tissue and plasma. Results: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled at 4 centers. Four patients had partial response (10.8%) and 21 had stable disease (59.5%). A greater than 30% increase in tumor doubling time was observed in 79% of assessable patients (27/34). Median PFS was 3.6 months for all patients. Diarrhea (32%) was the most common grade 3 adverse event; 3 patients had asymptomatic grade 4 elevation of amylase and lipase. Conclusions: Combination erlotinib and cabozantinib demonstrates activity in a highly pretreated population of patients with EGFR mutation and progression on EGFR TKI. Further elucidation of beneficial patient subsets is warranted. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01866410.

IntroductionEGFR exon 20 insertions (EGFRex20ins) comprise an uncommon subset of EGFR-activating alterations relatively insensitive to first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, recent early clinical data suggests these patients may benefit from newer-generation EGFR-TKIs. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) identifies a broad spectrum of EGFRex20ins and associated co-occurring genomic alterations (GAs) present in NSCLC.MethodsHybrid capture-based CGP was performed prospectively on 14,483 clinically annotated consecutive NSCLC specimens to a mean coverage depth of greater than 650X for 236 or 315 cancer-related genes.ResultsOf 14,483 NSCLC cases, CGP identified 263 (1.8%) cases with EGFRex20ins, representing 12% (263 of 2251) of cases with EGFR mutations. Sixty-four unique EGFRex20ins were identified, most commonly D770_N771>ASVDN (21%) and N771_P772>SVDNP (20%). EGFR amplification occurred in 22% (57 of 263). The most common co-occurring GAs effected tumor protein p53 (TP53) (56%), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) (22%), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B) (16%), NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1) (14%) and RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) (11%); co-occurring GAs in other known lung cancer drivers were rare (5%). Average tumor mutational burden was low (mean 4.3, range 0 to 40.3 mutations/Mb). Clinical outcomes to first- and second-generation EGFR TKIs were obtained for five patients and none responded.ConclusionsIn the largest series of EGFRex20ins NSCLC, diverse EGFRex20ins were detected in 12% of EGFR-mutant NSCLC, a higher frequency than previously reported in smaller single-institution studies. Clinical outcomes showed lack of response to EGFR TKIs. Tumor mutational burden was low, consistent with non-smoking associated NSCLC. Comprehensive sequencing revealed increased proportion and wide variety of EGFRex20ins, representing a population of patients significant enough for focused efforts on effective interventions.

PurposeTyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target MET signaling have shown promise in various types of cancer, including lung cancer. Combination strategies have been proposed and developed to increase their therapeutic index. Based on preclinical synergy between inhibition of MET and topoisomerase I, a phase I study was designed to explore the combination of topotecan with the MET TKI tivantinib.MethodsEligible patients with advanced solid malignancies for which there was no known effective treatment received topotecan at doses of 1.0-1.5 mg/m2/day for five consecutive days in 21-day cycles with continuous, oral tivantinib given at escalating doses of 120-360 mg orally twice daily. Pharmacokinetic analyses of tivantinib were included. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) were collected serially to identify peripheral changes in MET phosphorylation.ResultsThe trial included 18 patients, 17 of whom received treatment. At the planned doses, the combination of topotecan and tivantinib was not tolerable due to thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. The addition of G-CSF to attenuate neutropenia did not improve tolerability. Greater tivantinib exposure, assessed through pharmacokinetic analysis, was associated with greater toxicity. No responses were seen. MET phosphorylation was feasible in CTC, but no changes were seen with therapy.ConclusionsThe combination of topotecan and oral tivantinib was not tolerable in this patient population.

Background:To what extent steroid hormones contribute to lung cancer in male and female never smokers and smokers is unclear. We examined expression of hormone receptors in lung tumors by sex and smoking. Methods:Patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer were recruited into an Intergroup study in the United States and Canada, led by SWOG (S0424). Tumors from 813 cases (450 women and 363 men) were assayed using immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor (ER)-α, ER-β, progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Linear regression was used to examine differences in expression by sex and smoking status. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate survival associated with the receptors. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results:In ever smokers, postmenopause and oral contraceptive use were associated with lower nuclear ER-β (P = .02) and total (nuclear + cytoplasmic) PR expression (P = .02), respectively. Women had lower cytoplasmic ER-α (regression coefficient [β], or differences in H-scores = -15.8, P = .003) and nuclear ER-β (β = -12.8, P = .04) expression than men, adjusting for age, race, and smoking. Ever smokers had both higher cytoplasmic ER-α (β = 45.0, P < .001) and ER-β (β = 25.9, P < .001) but lower total PR (β = -42.1, P < .001) than never smokers. Higher cytoplasmic ER-α and ER-β were associated with worse survival (hazard ratio = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15 to 2.58, and HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.08 to 2.33, respectively; quartiles 4 vs 1). Conclusions:Lower expression of nuclear ER-β in women supports the estrogen hypothesis in lung cancer etiology. Increasing cytoplasmic ER-α and ER-β and decreasing PR protein expression may be mechanisms whereby smoking disrupts hormone pathways.

BackgroundBefore mutation testing of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene was recognized as highly associated with the activity of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), clinically defined patient populations with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and never smokers were identified as likely to benefit from EGFR TKIs. From preclinical and clinical data suggesting potentially improved efficacy with a combination of an EGFR TKI and the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab, the Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) initiated paired phase II trials to evaluate the combination of erlotinib/bevacizumab in patients with advanced BAC (SWOG S0635) or never smokers with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (SWOG S0636).Materials and methodsEligible patients with BAC or adenocarcinoma with BAC features (SWOG S0635) or never smokers with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (SWOG S0636) received erlotinib 150 mg/day with bevacizumab 15 mg/kg until progression or prohibitive toxicity. Never smokers with BAC were preferentially enrolled to SWOG S0636. The primary endpoint for both trials was overall survival.ResultsA total of 84 patients were enrolled in the SWOG S0635 trial and 85 in the SWOG S0636 trial. The objective response rate was 22% (3% complete response) in the SWOG S0635 trial and 50% (38% confirmed; 3% complete response) in the SWOG S0636 trial. The median progression-free survival was 5 and 7.4 months in the S0635 and S0636 trials, respectively. The median overall survival was 21 and 29.8 months, respectively. Toxicity consisted mainly of rash and diarrhea in both trials.ConclusionAlthough the field has moved toward molecular, rather than clinical, selection of patients as optimal candidates for EGFR TKI therapy, these results support the hypothesis that a subset of patients in whom erlotinib is particularly active could receive an incremental benefit from the addition of bevacizumab.

BackgroundEGFR antibodies have shown promise in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly with squamous cell histology. We hypothesised that EGFR copy number by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) can identify patients most likely to benefit from these drugs combined with chemotherapy and we aimed to explore the activity of cetuximab with chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC who are EGFR FISH-positive.MethodsWe did this open-label, phase 3 study (SWOG S0819) at 277 sites in the USA and Mexico. We randomly assigned (1:1) eligible patients with treatment-naive stage IV NSCLC to receive paclitaxel (200 mg/m2; every 21 days) plus carboplatin (area under the curve of 6 by modified Calvert formula; every 21 days) or carboplatin plus paclitaxel and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg; every 21 days), either with cetuximab (250 mg/m2 weekly after loading dose; cetuximab group) or without (control group), stratified by bevacizumab treatment, smoking status, and M-substage using a dynamic-balancing algorithm. Co-primary endpoints were progression-free survival in patients with EGFR FISH-positive cancer and overall survival in the entire study population. We analysed clinical outcomes with the intention-to-treat principle and analysis of safety outcomes included patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT00946712).FindingsBetween Aug 13, 2009, and May 30, 2014, we randomly assigned 1313 patients to the control group (n=657; 277 with bevacizumab and 380 without bevacizumab in the intention-to-treat population) or the cetuximab group (n=656; 283 with bevacizumab and 373 without bevacizumab in the intention-to-treat population). EGFR FISH was assessable in 976 patients and 400 patients (41%) were EGFR FISH-positive. The median follow-up for patients last known to be alive was 35·2 months (IQR 22·9-39·9). After 194 progression-free survival events in the cetuximab group and 198 in the control group in the EGFR FISH-positive subpopulation, progression-free survival did not differ between treatment groups (hazard ratio [HR] 0·92, 95% CI 0·75-1·12; p=0·40; median 5·4 months [95% CI 4·5-5·7] vs 4·8 months [3·9-5·5]). After 570 deaths in the cetuximab group and 593 in the control group, overall survival did not differ between the treatment groups in the entire study population (HR 0·93, 95% CI 0·83-1·04; p=0·22; median 10·9 months [95% CI 9·5-12·0] vs 9·2 months [8·7-10·3]). In the prespecified analysis of EGFR FISH-positive subpopulation with squamous cell histology, overall survival was significantly longer in the cetuximab group than in the control group (HR 0·58, 95% CI 0·36-0·86; p=0·0071), although progression-free survival did not differ between treatment groups in this subgroup (0·68, 0·46-1·01; p=0·055). Overall survival and progression-free survival did not differ among patients who were EGFR FISH non-positive with squamous cell histology (HR 1·04, 95% CI 0·78-1·40; p=0·77; and 1·02, 0·77-1·36; p=0·88 respectively) or patients with non-squamous histology regardless of EGFR FISH status (for EGFR FISH-positive 0·88, 0·68-1·14; p=0·34; and 0·99, 0·78-1·27; p=0·96; respectively; and for EGFR FISH non-positive 1·00, 0·85-1·17; p=0·97; and 1·03, 0·88-1·20; p=0·69; respectively). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were decreased neutrophil count (210 [37%] in the cetuximab group vs 158 [25%] in the control group), decreased leucocyte count (103 [16%] vs 74 [20%]), fatigue (81 [13%] vs 74 [20%]), and acne or rash (52 [8%] vs one [

A widespread approach to modern cancer therapy is to identify a single oncogenic driver gene and target its mutant-protein product (for example, EGFR-inhibitor treatment in EGFR-mutant lung cancers). However, genetically driven resistance to targeted therapy limits patient survival. Through genomic analysis of 1,122 EGFR-mutant lung cancer cell-free DNA samples and whole-exome analysis of seven longitudinally collected tumor samples from a patient with EGFR-mutant lung cancer, we identified critical co-occurring oncogenic events present in most advanced-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancers. We defined new pathways limiting EGFR-inhibitor response, including WNT/β-catenin alterations and cell-cycle-gene (CDK4 and CDK6) mutations. Tumor genomic complexity increases with EGFR-inhibitor treatment, and co-occurring alterations in CTNNB1 and PIK3CA exhibit nonredundant functions that cooperatively promote tumor metastasis or limit EGFR-inhibitor response. This study calls for revisiting the prevailing single-gene driver-oncogene view and links clinical outcomes to co-occurring genetic alterations in patients with advanced-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

BackgroundAdjuvant chemotherapy for resected early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) provides a modest survival benefit. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against VEGF, improves outcomes when added to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced-stage non-squamous NSCLC. We aimed to evaluate the addition of bevacizumab to adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage resected NSCLC.MethodsWe did an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial of adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 and who had completely resected stage IB (≥4 cm) to IIIA (defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer 6th edition) NSCLC. We enrolled patients from across the US National Clinical Trials Network, including patients from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) affiliates in Europe and from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, within 6-12 weeks of surgery. The chemotherapy regimen for each patient was selected before randomisation and administered intravenously; it consisted of four 21-day cycles of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1 in all regimens) in combination with investigator's choice of vinorelbine (30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8), docetaxel (75 mg/m2 on day 1), gemcitabine (1200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8), or pemetrexed (500 mg/m2 on day 1). Patients in the bevacizumab group received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days starting with cycle 1 of chemotherapy and continuing for 1 year. We randomly allocated patients (1:1) to group A (chemotherapy alone) or group B (chemotherapy plus bevacizumab), centrally, using permuted blocks sizes and stratified by chemotherapy regimen, stage of disease, histology, and sex. No one was masked to treatment assignment, except the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee. The primary endpoint was overall survival, analysed by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00324805.FindingsBetween June 1, 2007, and Sept 20, 2013, 1501 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the two treatment groups: 749 to group A (chemotherapy alone) and 752 to group B (chemotherapy plus bevacizumab). 383 (26%) of 1458 patients (with complete staging information) had stage IB, 636 (44%) had stage II, and 439 (30%) had stage IIIA disease (stage of disease data were missing for 43 patients). Squamous cell histology was reported for 422 (28%) of 1501 patients. All four cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens were used: 377 (25%) patients received vinorelbine, 343 (23%) received docetaxel, 283 (19%) received gemcitabine, and 497 (33%) received pemetrexed. At a median follow-up of 50·3 months (IQR 32·9-68·0), the estimated median overall survival in group A has not been reached, and in group B was 85·8 months (95% CI 74·9 to not reached); hazard ratio (group B vs group A) 0·99 (95% CI 0·82-1·19; p=0·90). Grade 3-5 toxicities of note (all attributions) that were reported more frequently in group B (the bevacizumab group) than in group A (chemotherapy alone) were overall worst grade (ie, all grade 3-5 toxicities; 496 [67%] of 738 in group A vs 610 [83%] of 735 in group B), hypertension (60 [8%] vs 219 [30%]), and neutropenia (241 [33%] vs 275 [37%]). The number of deaths on treatment did not differ between the groups (15 deaths in group A vs 19 in group B). Of these deaths, three in group A and ten in group B were considered at least possibly related to treatment.InterpretationAddition of bevacizumab to adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve overall survival for patients with surgically resected early-stage NSCLC. Bevacizumab does not have a role in this setting and should not be considered as an adjuvant therapy for patients with resected early-stage NSCLC.FundingNational Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

BackgroundSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an often lethal disease that commonly occurs in older individuals with a history of heavy tobacco use. Limited epidemiologic and outcomes data are available on young SCLC patients aged less than 50 years of age. We assessed clinical variables related to cause specific survival (CSS) of young patients with SCLC.MethodsSCLC patients in the California Cancer Registry diagnosed between 1998 and 2012 were included. Primary outcome measure was CSS. Hazard ratios (HR) for CSS were calculated using Cox Proportional Hazards (pH) models for all ages & for patients

IntroductionIn malignant pleural mesothelioma, targeting angiogenesis with cediranib, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor, may have therapeutic potential.MethodsS0905 phase I combined cediranib (two dose cohorts [30 mg and 20 mg daily]) with cisplatin-pemetrexed for six cycles followed by maintenance cediranib in unresectable chemonaive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma of any histologic subtype. The primary end point established the maximum tolerated dose in combination with cisplatin-pemetrexed in a dose deescalation scheme.ResultsA total of 20 patients were enrolled (seven to the 30-mg cohort and 13 to the 20-mag cohort). In the cediranib 30-mg cohort, two of the initial six patients reported dose-limiting toxicities and the dose was deemed too toxic to continue. In the next cohort, two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities, and thus, the maximum tolerated dose of cediranib was established as 20 mg. During the six cycles of cisplatin-pemetrexed-cediranib, 20 mg, there were grade 3 toxicities (neutropenia and gastrointestinal) and grade 4 thrombocytopenia. No patients had any significant episodes of bleeding. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (n = 17 evaluable patients), the median progression-free survival was 12.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.9-17.2); according to the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (n = 19 evaluable patients), the median progression-free survival was 8.6 months (95% CI: 6.1-10.9). For all patients, the disease control rate at 6 weeks was 90% and median overall survival time was 16.2 months (95% CI: 10.5-28.7).ConclusionsCediranib combined with cisplatin-pemetrexed has a reasonable toxicity profile and preliminary promising efficacy. The phase II S0905 trial will evaluate the efficacy of the triplet regimen compared with the current standard of care, cisplatin-pemetrexed.

BackgroundAlthough the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib is initially effective in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with tumors harboring activating mutations of EGFR, most subsequently develop acquired resistance. One recognized resistance mechanism occurs through activation of bypass signaling via the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-MET pathway. INC-280 is a small molecule kinase inhibitor of MET. We sought to demonstrate the activity of INC-280 on select NSCLC cell lines both as a single agent and in combination with erlotinib using exogenous HGF to simulate MET up-regulation.MethodsFour NSCLC cell lines (HCC827, PC9, H1666, and H358) were treated with either single-agent INC-280 or in combination with erlotinib with or without HGF. The activity of the drug treatments was measured by cell viability assays. Immunoblotting was used to monitor expression of EGFR/pEGFR, MET/pMET, GAB1/pGAB1, AKT/pAKT, and ERK/pERK as well as markers of apoptosis (PARP and capase-3 cleavage) in H1666, HCC827, and PC9.ResultsAs a single agent, INC-280 showed minimal cytotoxicity despite potent inhibition of MET kinase activity at concentrations as low as 10 nM. Addition of HGF prevented erlotinib-induced cell death. The addition of INC280 to HGF-mediated erlotinib-resistant models restored erlotinib sensitivity for all cell lines tested, associated with cleavage of both PARP and caspase-3. In these models, INC-280 treatment was sufficient to restore erlotinib-induced inhibition of MET, GAB1, AKT, and ERK in the presence of HGF.ConclusionAlthough the MET inhibitor INC-280 alone had no discernible effect on cell growth, it was able to restore sensitivity to erlotinib and promote apoptosis in NSCLC models rendered erlotinib resistant by HGF. These data provide a preclinical rationale for an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial of erlotinib plus INC-280 in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

ObjectivesThis two-part study evaluated trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, in combination with anticancer agents. Inhibition of MEK, a downstream effector of KRAS, demonstrated preclinical synergy with chemotherapy in KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines. Part 1 of this study identified recommended phase 2 doses of trametinib combinations. Part 2, reported herein, evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of trametinib combinations in patients with NSCLC with and without KRAS mutations.MethodsPhase 1b evaluated trametinib plus docetaxel with growth factor support (trametinib, 2.0 mg once daily, and docetaxel, 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) or pemetrexed (trametinib, 1.5 mg once daily, and pemetrexed, 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Eligibility criteria for the expansion cohorts included metastatic NSCLC with measurable disease, known KRAS mutation status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1 or lower, and no more than two prior regimens.ResultsThe primary end point of overall response rate (ORR) was met for both combinations. A confirmed partial response (PR) was observed in 10 of the 47 patients with NSCLC who received trametinib plus docetaxel (21%). The ORR was 18% (four PRs in 22 patients) in those with KRAS wild-type NSCLC versus 24% (six PRs in 25 patients) in those with KRAS-mutant NSCLC. Of the 42 patients with NSCLC treated with trametinib plus pemetrexed, six (14%) had a PR; the ORR was 17% (four of 23) in patients with KRAS-mutated NSCLC versus 11% (two of 19) in KRAS wild-type NSCLC. Adverse events-most commonly diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue-were manageable.ConclusionsTrametinib-plus-chemotherapy combinations were tolerable. Clinical activity exceeding the ORRs previously reported with docetaxel or pemetrexed alone in KRAS-mutated NSCLC and meeting prespecified criteria was observed.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma being the most common histological type. Early perturbations in cellular metabolism are a hallmark of cancer, but the extent of these changes in early stage lung adenocarcinoma remains largely unknown. In the current study, an integrated metabolomics and proteomics approach was utilized to characterize the biochemical and molecular alterations between malignant and matched control tissue from 27 subjects diagnosed with early stage lung adenocarcinoma. Differential analysis identified 71 metabolites and 1102 proteins that delineated tumor from control tissue. Integrated results indicated four major metabolic changes in early stage adenocarcinoma: (1) increased glycosylation and glutaminolysis; (2) elevated Nrf2 activation; (3) increase in nicotinic and nicotinamide salvaging pathways; and (4) elevated polyamine biosynthesis linked to differential regulation of the SAM/nicotinamide methyl-donor pathway. Genomic data from publicly available databases were included to strengthen proteomic findings. Our findings provide insight into the biochemical and molecular biological reprogramming that may accompanies early stage lung tumorigenesis and highlight potential therapeutic targets.

BackgroundPharmacodynamic separation of pemetrexed and erlotinib avoids negative cellular interactions and results in antitumor synergy in erlotinib-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, independent of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) genotype.Patients and methodsPatients with platinum-treated metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC were randomly assigned 1:2 to pemetrexed alone (500 mg/m2 provided intravenously on day 1) or pemetrexed followed by erlotinib (150 mg provided orally once daily on days 2-17) every 21 days. EGFR genotype was centrally confirmed by Sequenom multiplex oncogenotyping assay. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), which would be considered promising for future study if median PFS was ≥ 4.5 months.ResultsOf 83 patients enrolled, 79 were randomized to either pemetrexed alone (n = 27) or in combination (n = 52). Fifty-nine (79%) of 75 eligible patients had tumors with confirmed EGFR genotype: 7 with activating mutations and 52 wild type. Median PFS was 4.7 and 2.9 months in the combination and pemetrexed-alone groups, respectively. In patients with EGFR wild-type tumors, median PFS was 5.3 and 3.5 months in the combination and pemetrexed-alone groups, respectively. Objective response rate (29% vs. 10%, P = .17), 6-month PFS (45% vs. 29%, P = .26), and 12-month PFS (23% vs. 10%, P = .28) were all higher in the combination arm. Rash (67% vs. 26%, P = .0007) and diarrhea (44% vs. 11%, P = .003) were significantly more common in the combination arm.ConclusionIn patients with unselected or EGFR wild-type advanced nonsquamous NSCLC, pharmacodynamic separation of pemetrexed and intercalated erlotinib had promising antitumor activity without new safety concerns. The combination merits further evaluation as maintenance or second-line therapy against new standards in patients with EGFR wild-type advanced NSCLC.

The therapeutic landscape in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly changing. Never have so many changes of major importance occurred within so short a time. The present perspective describes this rapid evolution and resultant increasing complexity in the therapeutic decision-making process for the practicing oncologist.

BackgroundAtezolizumab is a humanised antiprogrammed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody that inhibits PD-L1 and programmed death-1 (PD-1) and PD-L1 and B7-1 interactions, reinvigorating anticancer immunity. We assessed its efficacy and safety versus docetaxel in previously treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.MethodsWe did a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial (OAK) in 194 academic or community oncology centres in 31 countries. We enrolled patients who had squamous or non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, were 18 years or older, had measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients had received one to two previous cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens (one or more platinum based combination therapies) for stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer. Patients with a history of autoimmune disease and those who had received previous treatments with docetaxel, CD137 agonists, anti-CTLA4, or therapies targeting the PD-L1 and PD-1 pathway were excluded. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenously receive either atezolizumab 1200 mg or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks by permuted block randomisation (block size of eight) via an interactive voice or web response system. Coprimary endpoints were overall survival in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and PD-L1-expression population TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 (≥1% PD-L1 on tumour cells or tumour-infiltrating immune cells). The primary efficacy analysis was done in the first 850 of 1225 enrolled patients. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02008227.FindingsBetween March 11, 2014, and April 29, 2015, 1225 patients were recruited. In the primary population, 425 patients were randomly assigned to receive atezolizumab and 425 patients were assigned to receive docetaxel. Overall survival was significantly longer with atezolizumab in the ITT and PD-L1-expression populations. In the ITT population, overall survival was improved with atezolizumab compared with docetaxel (median overall survival was 13·8 months [95% CI 11·8-15·7] vs 9·6 months [8·6-11·2]; hazard ratio [HR] 0·73 [95% CI 0·62-0·87], p=0·0003). Overall survival in the TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 population was improved with atezolizumab (n=241) compared with docetaxel (n=222; median overall survival was 15·7 months [95% CI 12·6-18·0] with atezolizumab vs 10·3 months [8·8-12·0] with docetaxel; HR 0·74 [95% CI 0·58-0·93]; p=0·0102). Patients in the PD-L1 low or undetectable subgroup (TC0 and IC0) also had improved survival with atezolizumab (median overall survival 12·6 months vs 8·9 months; HR 0·75 [95% CI 0·59-0·96]). Overall survival improvement was similar in patients with squamous (HR 0·73 [95% CI 0·54-0·98]; n=112 in the atezolizumab group and n=110 in the docetaxel group) or non-squamous (0·73 [0·60-0·89]; n=313 and n=315) histology. Fewer patients had treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events with atezolizumab (90 [15%] of 609 patients) versus docetaxel (247 [43%] of 578 patients). One treatment-related death from a respiratory tract infection was reported in the docetaxel group.InterpretationTo our knowledge, OAK is the first randomised phase 3 study to report results of a PD-L1-targeted therapy, with atezolizumab treatment resulting in a clinically relevant improvement of overall survival versus docetaxel in previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer, regardless of PD-L1 expression or histology, with a favourable safety profile.FundingF. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech, Inc.