PL03.07: First-line Ceritinib Versus Chemotherapy in Patients with ALK-rearranged (ALK+) NSCLC: A Randomized, Phase 3 Study (ASCEND-4)

Abstract

Here, we report results of ceritinib versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced ALK+ NSCLC. Untreated ALK+ (IHC confirmed), advanced, nonsquamous NSCLC patients (N=376; median age, 54 years) were randomized (1:1) to ceritinib 750 mg/day (n=189 [59 with brain metastases (BM)]) or chemotherapy (n=187 [62 with BM]; [pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5-6] for 4 cycles followed by maintenance pemetrexed), stratified by WHO PS (0 vs 1-2), BM at screening, and prior neo-/adjuvant chemotherapy. Crossover from chemotherapy to ceritinib was allowed at progression (n=80 crossed-over). Median treatment exposure was 66.4 weeks for ceritinib and 26.9 weeks for chemotherapy. Median follow-up duration was 19.7 months (randomization to cut-off date). The study met its primary objective, with ceritinib demonstrating statistically significant improvement in BIRC PFS (RECIST 1.1; median, 16.6 [12.6, 27.2] vs 8.1 months [5.8, 11.1], HR=0.55, P<0.001) versus chemotherapy. OS was immature (HR, 0.73 [0.50, 1.08]; P=0.056) with 42.3% of required events at interim analysis. ORR (BIRC, 72.5% vs 26.7%) and DOR (BIRC, median, 23.9 vs 11.1 months) were also higher with ceritinib versus chemotherapy. Among patients with measurable baseline BM and ≥1 postbaseline assessment, intracranial ORR (BIRC neuroradiologist; modified RECIST v1.1) was higher with ceritinib (72.7% [49.8, 89.3] vs 27.3% [10.7, 50.2]) versus chemotherapy (Table). Most common AEs (>50%) with ceritinib were diarrhea (84.7%), nausea (68.8%), vomiting (66.1%), ALT increase (60.3%), and AST increase (52.9%). Overall, 5.3% ceritinib- and 11.4% chemotherapy-treated patients discontinued due to AEs suspected to be drug-related. First-line ceritinib achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in median PFS with an estimated 45% risk reduction in advanced ALK+ NSCLC versus chemotherapy including maintenance. Moreover, ceritinib achieved high and durable systemic responses and high OIRR in patients with measurable BM. Safety profile of ceritinib is consistent with previously reported.