Final efficacy and safety results of pemetrexed (pem) continuation maintenance (mtc) therapy in the elderly from the PARAMOUNT phase III study.

Abstract

8068 Background: The PARAMOUNT phase III trial showed that mtc pem after pem-cisplatin induction was well tolerated and effective for patients (pts) with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. Here we present the final OS and safety data from this study in elderly (≥70 yrs) vs. non-elderly (<70 yrs) pts. Methods: In this double-blind study, 539 pts with a PS of 0/1 were randomized (2:1, stratified for stage, PS and induction response) to receive mtc pem (n=359, 500 mg/m2, day 1, 21 day cycle) or placebo (plc) (n=180). The study was powered for PFS (previously reported) and key secondary OS. Subgroup analyses were done for pts ≥70 yrs and <70 yrs. Results: Subgroups (≥70: n=92, 17%; <70: n=447, 83%) had similar baseline characteristics except for PS and sex (elderly, PS 0/1: 22%/77%, M/F: 66%/34%; non-elderly, PS 0/1: 34%/65%, M/F: 56%/44%). The median ages were 73 yrs (≥70) and 60 yrs (<70). The mean cycles received for pts ≥70 were 7.4 (range 1-36, dose intensity (DI) 91%) for pem and 4.5 for plc, and for pts <70 were 8.0 (range 1-44, DI 94%) for pem and 5.1 for plc. The OS HRs (pem vs. plc) were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.55-1.4) for ≥70 yrs and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.60-0.95, p=0.015) for<70 yrs. The median OS (95% CI) (≥70) was 13.7 mo (10.4-19.4) for pem and 12.1 mo (8.4-16.9) for plc; the median OS (95%CI) (<70) was 13.9 mo (12.5-16.1) for pem and 10.8 mo (9.5-12.9) for plc. The 1 and 2 yr OS rates (95% CI) for the elderly were 60% (45-71%) and 34% (21-47%) for pem vs. 52% (36-66%) and 28% (15-43%) for plc, respectively. For non-elderly pts, the 1 and 2 yr OS rates were 58% (52-63%) and 31% (26-37%) for pem vs. 43% (35-52%) and 19% (13-27%) for plc, respectively. The Table shows a subset of drug-related AEs. Conclusions: Continuation mtc pem had comparable survival and toxicity profiles in the ≥70 and <70 yrs subgroups. However, Gr 3/4 anemia and neutropenia were numerically higher for pts ≥70 yrs. Clinical trial information: NCT00789373. [Table: see text]