Erlotinib Versus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin as (Neo)Adjuvant Treatment in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

A National, Multi Center, Randomized, Open-label, Phase II Trial of Erlotinib Versus Combination of GC as (Neo)Adjuvant Treatment in Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC With Sensitizing EGFR Mutation in Exon 19 or 21(EMERGING)

Stage IIIA NSCLC represents a relatively heterogeneous group of pts with ipsilateral mediastinal (N2) lymph node involvement. The relative roles of treatment modalities are not clearly defined. Concurrent chemoradiation therapy remains an important treatment for stage IIIA disease, but its treatment-related life threatening toxicity limits its use. The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) may provide a dramatic response in pts with pulmonary adenocarcinoma carrying EGFR activating mutations in the metastatic setting. In the OPTIMAL study, first-line erlotinib versus carboplatin/GEM in advanced NSCLC pts with EGFR activating mutations, the primary analysis showed significantly prolonged progressive free survival (PFS) was with erlotinib vs carboplatin/GEM (p<0.0001). The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of erlotinib versus GEM plus cisplatin (GC) as neoadjuvant treatment in pts with stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC with EGFR activating mutations and to explore a new treatment strategy for this subset.

Concurrent Chemoradiation therapy remain the standard treatment for stage IIIA disease, but its treatment-related life threaten toxicity limit its use for those pts.

Tarceva monotherapy have been demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival and disease progression free survival when used for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC, after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. It is well tolerated without the side effects usually associated with chemotherapy.

Based on the encouraging results reported from the SLCG phase II study reported the efficacy of Tarceva as first line treatment for metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutation patients would prolong overall survival, delay disease progression and be well tolerated, mOS reached 27 months, ORR reached 71%. Besides, with different mechanism and more tolerable than chemo, Tarceva may provide an important treatment alternative for local advanced pts with EGFR mutation.

In IPASS study (gefitinib or carboplatin/paclitaxel in pulmonary adenocarcinoma as first line treatment), the subgroup of 261 patients who were positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) mutation, progression-free survival was significantly longer among those who received gefitinib than among those who received carboplatin-paclitaxel (hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.64; P<0.001).

In OPTIMAL study (first-line erlotinib versus carboplatin/gemcitabine in Chinese advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR activating mutations), the primary analysis showed PFS was significantly prolonged with erlotinib vs carboplatin/paclitaxel(13.1months vs 4.6 months, HR 0.16 ; p<0.0001). The objective response rate was significantly improved with erlotinib vs carboplatin/paclitaxel (83% vs 36%, p=0.0000), as was the disease control rate (CR + PR + SD; 96 vs 82%; p=0.002).

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of Tarceva versus combination of Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with stage IIIA- N2 NSCLC with EGFR activating mutation in exon 19 or 21.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent provided.
• Males or females aged ≥18 years.
• Able to comply with the required protocol and follow-up procedures, and able to receive oral medications.
• Pathologically diagnosed of non-small cell lung cancer.
• Diagnosed as stage IIIA- N2.The diagnosis standard of N2 is as below: Pts with resectable stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC confirmed by mediastinoscopy or EBUS or PET/CT.
• EGFR activating mutation in exon 19 or 21 by the biopsy of primary tumor or N2 lymph node.
• Measurable disease must be characterized according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.
• Measurable lesions are defined as those that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 10mm by spiral CT or MRI scan. The measurable criteria of lymph node is the short axis ≥ 15 mm.
• ECOG performance status 0-1.
• Life expectancy ≥12 weeks.
• Adequate hematological function:Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 109/L, and Platelet count ≥100 x 109/L, and Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL (may be transfused to maintain or exceed this level).
• Adequate liver function: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN);Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN in subjects without liver metastases; ≤ 5 x ULN in subjects with liver metastases.
• Adequate renal function:Serum creatinine ≤ 1.25 x ULN, and creatinine clearance ≥ 60 ml/min.
• Female subjects should not be pregnant or breast-feeding.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with prior exposure to agents directed at the HER axis (e.g. erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab, trastuzumab).
• Patients with prior chemotherapy or therapy with systemic anti-tumour therapy (e.g. monoclonal antibody therapy).
• Resection of primary malignancy.
• EGFR mutation (exon 19 or 21) negative or unknown.
• Uncontrolled central nervous system (CNS) metastasis.
• History of another malignancy in the last 5 years with the exception of the following:Other malignancies cured by surgery alone and having a continuous disease-free interval of 5 years are permitted; Cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin and cured in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix are permitted.
• Any unstable systemic disease (including active infection, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within the previous year, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication, hepatic, renal, or metabolic disease).
• Known hypersensitivity to Tarceva or gemcitabine or cisplatin.
• Eye inflammation or eye infection not fully treated or conditions predisposing the subject to this.
• Evidence of any other disease, neurological or metabolic dysfunction, physical examination or laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicated the use of an investigational drug or puts the subject at high risk for treatment-related complications.