Pemetrexed With or Without Carboplatin for Elderly Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (ACE)

A Randomized, Open-label, Phase III Study Comparing Pemetrexed With and Without Carboplatin in Elderly Patients With Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The number of NSCLC patients above 70 years of age who are non-squamous histology is increasing around the world. Although previous guidelines often recommend single agent therapy for NSCLC, recent studies suggest that platinum doublets may be better than standard monotherapy in elderly. We hypothesize that for elder patients (≥70 years of age) with non-squamous NSCLC, pemetrexed and carboplatin is more effective than pemetrexed monotherapy in terms disease progression, overall survival, and quality of life and tolerability.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: PemCarbo; Drug: Pem only

Detailed Description

The treatment of NSCLC in elderly has been subject to discussion for years. While platinum doublets consisting of cisplatin or carboplatin and another cytotoxic agent demonstrate a survival advantage compared with single agents generally, evidence of treatment efficacy for patients with diminished performance status (PS) or with age older than 70 years is limited. Guidelines from the US and Europe have preferred single-agent chemotherapy for the elderly and PS 2 patients. However, increasing studies are exploring this issue and presenting data that favour doublet therapy. The addition of carboplatin to paclitaxel and cisplatin to docetaxel have shown evidence that patients over 70 benefit more in face of increased toxicities.

This study is designed to be multi-center, open-label, prospective, randomized, two-arm, parallel, phase III trial of elderly patients(≥70 years old) with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC (Stage IV by AJCC 7th) who have not received prior systemic chemotherapy or biological therapy. Approximately 266 patients will be enrolled into the trial. This study compares the doublet therapy of pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL*min) administered intravenously every 21 days for 4 cycles followed by pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) every 21 days for maintenance therapy (Arm A) to single therapy of pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) every 21 days till progression or unacceptable toxicity (Arm B). Pemetrexed will be administered with vitamin B12 and folate supplements.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 266
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Korea, Republic of
  • Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 138-736
    • Recruiting
    • Asan Medical Center
    • Contact: Sang-We Kim, M.D.; Phone Number: 82-2-3010-3215; Email: swkim@amc.seoul.kr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 70 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically confirmed advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (stage IV, AJCC 7th)
• Age 70 years old or older
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1
• Measurable or assessable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1
• Estimated life expectancy of more than 3 months
• Adequate bone marrow function(Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/µL, platelets ≥ 100,000/µL, hemoglobulin ≥ 9 g/dL)
• Adequate renal function: creatinine < 1 x upper normal limit (UNL) or creatinine clearance(Ccr) using Cockroft and Gault formula ≥45 ml/min
• Adequate hepatic function: bilirubin < 1.5 x UNL, AST/ALT levels < 3 x UNL, alkaline phosphatase < 3 x UNL (except in case of bone metastasis without any liver disease)
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior systemic chemotherapy or biological therapy
• Contraindication to any drug contained in the chemotherapy regimen
• Clinically significant third-space fluid collections (e.g. pleural effusion and pericardial effusion) that cannot be controlled by drainage or other procedures prior to study enrollment
• Active infection which would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate treatment
• Requirement for major surgery within 4 weeks of study entry
• Myocardial infarction, uncontrolled arrhythmias, symptomatic angina pectoris, cardiac failure within the previous 6 months
• Unable to discontinue administration of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); Aspirin or NSAIDs should be at least 5 days before pemetrexed administration
• Presence or history of CNS metastasis (except if adequately treated and is not receiving steroid therapy for at least 2 weeks; at least 2 weeks for whole brain radiation or at least 1 week for gamma knife surgery)
• Peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• History of another malignancy within the last five years except cured basal cell carcinoma of skin, cured carcinoma in-situ of uterine cervix and cured thyroid malignancy
• Pregnant or lactating women, women of childbearing potential not employing adequate contraception
• Other serious illness or medical conditions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: PemCarbo; Pemetrexed/Carboplatin arm	Drug: PemCarbo; Pemetrexed 500mg/m2, Carboplatin AUC5 intravenously q 3 weeks for 4 cycles, followed by pemtrexed 500mg/m2 q 3 weeks for maintenance therapy; Other Names: Alimta: brand name of Pemetrexed
Active Comparator: Pem only; Pemetrexed arm	Drug: Pem only; Pemetrexed 500mg/m2 intrvenously q 3 weeks till progression or unacceptable toxicity.; Other Names: Alimta: brand name of pemetrexed

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression free survival	To compare the progression free survival of elderly patients (≥70 years old) with non-squamous NSCLC receiving doublet of carboplatin and pemetrexed to patients receiving pemetrexed alone.	The study lasts for 30 months of which subject accrual occurs in the first 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective response rate, Overall survival, Safety and Quality of life	To compare the following efficacy variables between treatment arms:Objective response rateOverall survival; To compare the safety and adverse event profile between treatment arms; To assess the impact of treatment on patient-rated quality of life (FACT-L)	The study lasts for 30 months of which subject accrual occurs in the first 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Asan Medical Center
• Collaborators: Eli Lilly and Company; Korean Cancer Study Group
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sang-We Kim, M.D., Asan Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): May 8, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 8, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2012
• Last Verified: May 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Elderly patients; Carboplatin; Pemetrexed; Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Folic Acid Antagonists; Pemetrexed
• Other Study ID Numbers: AMC 2011-0857 (Other Identifier: Asan Medical Center)