Randomized phase III study comparing carboplatin plus pemetrexed followed by pemetrexed versus docetaxel in elderly patients with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (JCOG1210/WJOG7813L).

Abstract

9031 Background: The aim of this phase III randomized trial is to determine the efficacy of pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by pemetrexed for elderly patients (pts) with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Cytotoxic chemotherapy-naïve, ECOG-PS 0-1, aged 75 years or older, and advanced stage non-squamous NSCLC pts were randomized to receive either docetaxel 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks [DOC] or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/ml/min and pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks followed by maintenance therapy with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks after 4 cycles of carboplatin and pemetrexed [CBDCA/PEM] given until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was OS. Non-inferiority of CBDCA/PEM arm was planned to be demonstrated if upper limit of 95% confidence interval (CI) for hazard ratio (HR) did not exceed 1.154. Results: Between August 2013 to February 2017, 433 pts with a median age of 78 years (range, 75 to 88) were randomly assigned to the DOC arm (n = 217) or the CBDCA/PEM arm (n = 216). Non-inferiority of CBDCA/PEM arm was confirmed in all enrolled patients (HR for OS, 0.850; 95% CI, 0.684 to 1.056, P < 0.01). The median OS for DOC and CBDCA/PEM arms were 15.5 months and 18.7 months, respectively. In the CBDCA/PEM arm, PFS was significantly better (HR, 0.739; 95% CI, 0.609 to 0.89) and response rate was better (28.2% vs. 36.8%; P = 0.07), and incidence of neutropenia or febrile neutropenia of grade 3 or 4 was significantly lower. Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia or anemia was more common in the CBDCA/PEM arm. Four treatment-related deaths (two in each treatment arm) occurred. QOL (FACT-LCS) was favorable for CBDCA/PEM arm throughout 18 weeks after enrollment. Conclusions: Pemetrexed/carboplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance is a valid therapeutic option for the first-line treatment of elderly pts with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. Clinical trial information: 000011460.