Reduced CT + Anti-PD-1 as First Line Tx in Vulnerable Older Adults w/Adv <50% PD-L1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Phase 2 Study to Evaluate Reduced Dose Chemotherapy in Combination With Anti-PD-1 Therapy as First Line Treatment in Vulnerable or Older Adults (Vulnerable or Age ≥70) With Advanced PD-L1 TPS <50% Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Evaluate frequency of adverse events that lead to chemotherapy discontinuation in vulnerable older adults with recurrent/metastatic PD-L1 TPS<50% NSCLC patients who receive reduced dose chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy.

This is a single institution, single arm, open label phase 2 study in vulnerable or older adults (Age ≥70) with recurrent or metastatic, histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or non-squamous cell carcinoma of lung without driver mutation and PD-L1 TPS < 50% to evaluate safety and tolerability of reduced dose of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (either squamous or non- squamous)
• Stage IIIB, IIIC or IV disease OR have recurrent disease and not be candidates for curative treatment such as combined chemo-radiation
• No previous line of treatment in the recurrent or metastatic setting. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment more than 6 months before enrollment is acceptable.
• Age 70 or meeting frailty definition or above at the date of signing informed consent
• Absence of driver mutations that have first line Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved targeted therapy (biomarker testing is optional for squamous cell)
• PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of less than 50%
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS of 0-3
• Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the local site investigator/radiology assessment
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000/μL
• Platelets ≥ 75,000/μL
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion permitted)
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Aspartate amino transferase (AST)serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) /alanine aminotransferase (ALT)serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 5.0 × institutional ULN
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with life expectancy of less than 3 months at the time of enrollment

• Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (ie, with use of disease modifying agents, or immunosuppressive drugs)

• Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease

• Creatinine clearance of <30 mL/min

• Symptomatic, untreated central nervous system (CNS) disease or leptomeningeal disease. Patients with asymptomatic or treated CNS disease are eligible

• Required ongoing use of immunosuppressive medication, including steroids, with the following allowable exceptions:

  • Doses less than or equal to the equivalent of prednisone 10 mg daily
  • Short courses of steroids that are discontinued prior to enrollment
  • Inhaled, intranasal and/or topical steroids
  • Dexamethasone taper for treating vasogenic edema associated with CNS disease