Multimodality Treatment in Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Immune-modulatory Radiotherapy to Enhance the Effects of Neoadjuvant PD-L1 Blockade After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Stage III(N2) Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Multicenter Phase II Trial

Resectable, locally advanced NSCLC with involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) is associated with a high risk of (systemic) recurrence despite neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Neo-adjuvant immunotherapy is a promising additional treatment modality aiming at increasing local control and better tackling micrometastases at the time of radical local treatment. Radiotherapy is thought to act synergistically with immunotherapy through release of tumor antigens and modulation of the local immune microenvironment in favor of a better antigen-presentation and (systemic) anti-tumor immune response (abscopal effect).

The aim of the proposed SAKK 16/18 trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding immune-modulatory radiotherapy to the SAKK 16/14 treatment regimen by combining neo-adjuvant radio-immunotherapy. Due to the lack of evidence for an optimal radiotherapy regimen for an "in-situ vaccination" effect three different radiotherapy regimens will be tested.

In resectable locally advanced lung cancer there is an urgent need for more efficacious therapy, since most of the patients will eventually have a relapse and will die of the disease. Distant metastases are the main site of recurrence. Therefore, the most promising treatment strategy is to better eliminate micrometastases present at the time of diagnosis through improved systemic treatment. In this regard, the SAKK 16/14 trial is investigating the efficacy of the anti-PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab before and after surgery added to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin/docetaxel. It has just completed accrual as of Q1 2019.

The primary aim of the SAKK 16/18 trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding immune-modulatory radiotherapy to the SAKK 16/14 treatment regimen by combining it with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Due to the lack of evidence for an optimal immune-modulatory radiotherapy regimen we test 3 different radiotherapy regimens to investigate differences in efficacy and tolerability as key exploratory endpoint.

Neoadjuvant therapy is the optimal setting to test the combination of immune-modulatory radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Resection of the primary tumor and mediastinal lymph nodes will allow to investigate pathological responses and nodal downstaging at an early time point. Furthermore, this setting allows for extensive translational research evaluating cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor immune response.

SAKK 16/18 is a prospective, multicenter, phase II trial with 3 radiotherapy cohorts.

The treatment consists of

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel: 3 cycles of 21 days

• Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with durvalumab: 1 cycle

• Neoadjuvant immune-modulatory radiotherapy

  • Concurrent with neoadjuvant immunotherapy

  • Random assignment to one of the following fractionation regimens:

    • 20x2 Gy (weekdaily, 4 weeks)
    • 5x5 Gy (weekdaily, 1 week)
    • 3x8 Gy (on alternate days, 1 week)

• Surgery

  o Between 4 and 6 weeks after the application of durvalumab (independent of the radiotherapy regimen)

• If indicated: Postoperative radiotherapy (should start between 3 to 6 weeks after surgery)

• Adjuvant immunotherapy with durvalumab: 13 cycles of 28 days

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent according to ICH-GCP regulations before registration and prior to any trial specific procedures.

• Histologically (cytology is accepted if histology is not possible) confirmed NSCLC (adeno-, squamous-, large cell carcinoma, or NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS)) irrespective of genomic aberrations or PD-L1 expression status.

• Tumor stage T1-4>7 N2 M0 (i.e. T1-3 N2 or T4 N2 but T4 only allowed if due to size > 7cm, not allowed if due to invasion or nodule in different ipsilateral lobe), according to the TNM classification, 8th edition, December 2016 (see Appendix 2). Mediastinal lymph node staging has to follow the process chart.

• Tumor is considered resectable based on a multidisciplinary tumor board decision made before neoadjuvant treatment. Resectable is when a complete resection can be achieved according to Rami-Porta

• Patients with a prior malignancy (except NSCLC) and treated with curative intention are eligible if all treatment of that malignancy was completed at least 2 years before registration and the patient has no evidence of disease at registration. Less than 2 years is acceptable for malignancies with low risk of recurrence and/or no late recurrence, after consultation with CI.

• Measurable disease per RECIST v1.1 criteria by PET/CT with contrast enhanced CT-scan.

• Tumor tissue is available for the mandatory translational research (formalin-fixed; preferably histology, cytology allowed if histology is not possible)

• Age 18-75 years at time of registration

• WHO performance status 0-1

• Adequate bone marrow function: absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L (transfusion allowed)

• Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except for patients with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3.0 x ULN), AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, AP ≤ 2.5 x ULN.

• Adequate renal function: calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min, according to the formula of Cockcroft-Gault

• Appropriate lung function based on the ESTS guidelines:

  • For pneumonectomy: FEV1 and DLCO ≥80%. If one of both <80%, an exercise test peak VO2 >75% or 20ml/kg/min is needed
  • For resection less than pneumonectomy (resection up to the calculated extent): exercise test peak VO2 ≥35% or ≥10ml/kg/min, with predicted postoperative FEV1 and DLCO ≥ 30%.
  • NB: if Spiroergometry would be needed according to ESTS guidelines but is not possible in due time due to patient factors or the center's resources alternative assessment methods of fitness for resection can be used (e.g. Stair climbing test, V/P scan)

• Adequate cardiac function according to investigator's decision based on evaluation of risk according to NYHA classification

• Women of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraception, are not pregnant or lactating and agree not to become pregnant during trial treatment and until 90 days after the last dose of investigational drug. A negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days before registration is required for all women of childbearing potential.

• Men agree not to donate sperm or to father a child during trial treatment and until 90 days after the last dose of investigational drug.

Exclusion criteria:

• Presence of any distant metastasis or N3 disease. Brain metastases have to be excluded by CT or MRI.
• Sulcus superior tumors (Pancoast tumors) or T4 for any other reason than size >7cm.
• Any previous treatment for NSCLC
• Any previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including durvalumab
• Previous radiotherapy to the chest (with the exception of tangential breast irradiation with minimal dose to lung and mediastinum, and superficial orthovoltage or electron irradiation of localized skin lesions)
• Concomitant or recent (within 30 days of registration) treatment with any other experimental drug and/or enrollment in another clinical trial.
• Concomitant use of other anti-cancer drugs or radiotherapy.
• Severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure NYHA III or IV) unstable angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction within the last three months, serious arrhythmias requiring medication (with exception of atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia), uncontrolled hypertension.
• Preexisting peripheral neuropathy (> Grade 1)
• Body weight less than 30 kg
• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active chronic Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B virus infection or any uncontrolled active systemic infection requiring intravenous (iv) antimicrobial treatment.
• Known history of allogeneic organ transplant
• Active autoimmune disease or a syndrome requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease. Exceptions: vitiligo, resolved childhood asthma/atopy, hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement, Sjögren's syndrome
• Active or prior documented inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Concomitant or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 28 days before registration, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids, or systemic corticosteroids which must not exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or a dose equivalent corticosteroid, and the premedication for chemotherapy
• Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drugs according to the approved product information.
• Known hypersensitivity to trial drugs (cisplatin and docetaxel, durvalumab) or to any excipient
• Any other serious underlying medical, psychiatric, psychological, familial or geographical condition, which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the planned staging, treatment and follow-up, affect patient compliance or place the patient at high risk from treatment-related complications.