An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Phase Ib/II Study of Eribulin Mesylate Administered in Combination With Pemetrexed Versus Pemetrexed Alone as Second-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

IntroductionNew treatment options are needed for second-line therapy in patients with NSCLC. Patients and MethodsThis was a phase Ib/II study in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC in whom 1 previous platinum-based chemotherapy regimen had failed. Fifteen patients were enrolled in a dose escalation of eribulin mesylate in combination with pemetrexed (E+P). In phase II (n = 80), E+P at the maximum tolerated dose was compared with P. ResultsIn phase Ib, the maximum tolerated dose of E+P was defined as eribulin 0.9 mg/m2 with pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) each on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. In phase II, adverse events were comparable between groups. PFS and OS were similar between treatment groups. Median PFS was 21.4 weeks for E+P (n = 26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7-39.6) and 23.4 weeks for P (n = 29; 95% CI, 17.1-29.9), with a hazard ratio of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.6-1.7). ConclusionDuring phase Ib, E+P was tolerated only at a markedly lower dosing intensity relative to the eribulin monotherapy regimen approved for breast cancer and used in phase II studies of NSCLC. At the selected phase II dosing regimen, E+P was generally safe and well tolerated but provided no therapeutic advantage for the second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC.