Phase 3 PANOVA-3 study: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) therapy concomitant with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) for front-line treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Abstract

TPS4199 Background: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a locoregional antimitotic treatment approved for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma GBM and pleural mesothelioma. TTFields (150 kHz) therapy, with/without chemotherapy, had antiproliferative and anticlonogenic activity in pancreatic cancer cell lines, and reduced tumor volume and weight more than chemotherapy alone in in vivo models. TTFields therapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) was well-tolerated, with promising efficacy in metastatic and locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC) in the phase 2 PANOVA study (NCT01971281). LAPC prognosis remains poor despite available therapies, which can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). As such, there remains a need for effective and tolerable treatments. Methods: PANOVA-3 (EF-27, NCT03377491) is a prospective, randomized, phase 3 study investigating the efficacy and safety of TTFields therapy with GnP in patients with LAPC, with a planned enrollment of 556 patients. Key inclusion criteria are: a diagnosis of unresectable LAPC (per NCCN guidelines), ECOG PS of 0–2, and no prior treatment. Patients will be stratified by performance status and geographical region and assigned 1:1 to treatment groups to receive TTFields therapy + GnP or GnP alone. GnP will be administered at a standard dose per standard of care. TTFields therapy (150 kHz, 18h/day) will be delivered by the NovoTTF-200T System until local disease progression per RECIST v1.1. Usage will be tracked by the device. Follow-up will be performed every 4 weeks and computed tomography scans of the chest and abdomen will be taken every 8 weeks until disease progression. Patients will be followed every month until death. The primary endpoint is overall survival and key secondary endpoints include QoL, pain-free survival, and puncture-free survival, which will be compared between treatment groups. Other secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), local PFS, objective response rate, 1-year survival rate, rate of resectability, and safety. Guidance around usage, lifestyle integration and prevention and management of skin adverse events will be provided by Device Support Specialists and field personnel. Usage information will be provided to patients and physicians to facilitate discussions to optimize outcomes by maximizing time on therapy. Together, these novel support approaches aim to optimize patient usage and outcomes. The trial is currently recruiting at 149 sites, globally. The DMC last reviewed the trial in August 2022, and suggested that the trial continue as planned. Clinical trial information: NCT03377491 .