Durvalumab + Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

(AEGEAN Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 244 trial locations

Overseen By AstraZeneca Clinical Study Information Center

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: AstraZeneca

Disqualifiers: Autoimmune disorders, Primary malignancy, Immunodeficiency, Infection, others

Pivotal Trial (Near Approval) This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of durvalumab (an immunotherapy drug) combined with chemotherapy, both before and after lung cancer surgery, compared to chemotherapy alone. It targets individuals newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can potentially be removed by surgery. Participants should not have received any prior treatment for their lung cancer and must have a planned surgery, such as a lobectomy (removal of a lung lobe). As a Phase 3 trial, this study represents the final step before FDA approval, offering participants the opportunity to contribute to potentially groundbreaking treatment advancements.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that durvalumab, when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy, is generally safe and well-tolerated. Patients with various solid tumors have received durvalumab, and results indicate it is safe to use alongside other drugs like tremelimumab. In studies on lung cancer, durvalumab did not cause unexpected or severe side effects, suggesting it is relatively safe for patients.

Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, are well-known in cancer treatment. These drugs are commonly used and have a long history. They can cause side effects like nausea or tiredness, but doctors know how to manage them.

Overall, studies on the combination of durvalumab with platinum-based chemotherapy show promising safety data. Patients considering joining a trial can feel reasonably confident about the treatment's safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about durvalumab combined with chemotherapy for lung cancer because it introduces an immunotherapy element to the traditional chemotherapy regimen. Durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin, cisplatin, and others. Unlike the standard treatment, which primarily relies on chemotherapy alone, this combination aims to provide a more robust response by engaging the body's own defenses against the tumor. This dual approach could offer improved outcomes for patients, especially those with tumors previously unresponsive to conventional therapy.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for lung cancer?

Research shows that durvalumab, one of the treatments in this trial, can help treat lung cancer when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. In earlier studies with patients who have a type of lung cancer that cannot be removed by surgery, durvalumab helped patients live longer without their cancer worsening. Another study found that patients who received durvalumab lived longer overall compared to those who received a placebo. These findings suggest that adding durvalumab to chemotherapy could improve outcomes for lung cancer patients, making it a treatment worth considering. In this trial, participants will receive either durvalumab with platinum-based chemotherapy or a placebo with platinum-based chemotherapy to evaluate durvalumab's effectiveness in this context. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

John V. Heymach, MD

Principal Investigator

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults over 18 with newly diagnosed, untreated non-small cell lung cancer that can be surgically removed may join. They should have good physical function and no prior immune therapy or certain other cancers. Surgery must be planned (lobectomy, sleeve resection, bilobectomy) and they cannot have brain metastases, active infections like TB or HIV, a history of organ transplant, or autoimmune diseases.

Inclusion Criteria

I am fully active or restricted in physically strenuous activity but can do light work.

I have at least one cancer spot that can be measured and hasn't been treated with radiation.

I have not had treatments like immunotherapy for my condition.

Exclusion Criteria

Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or excipients

I do not have active infections like TB, hepatitis B or C, or HIV.

My cancer has a confirmed EGFR mutation or ALK translocation.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Neoadjuvant Treatment

Participants receive durvalumab or placebo with platinum-based chemotherapy every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles prior to surgery

12 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Surgery

Participants undergo surgery to resect lung cancer

Adjuvant Treatment

Participants receive durvalumab or placebo monotherapy every 4 weeks for up to 12 cycles after surgery

48 weeks

12 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Carboplatin
• Cisplatin
• Durvalumab
• Gemcitabine
• Paclitaxel
• Pemetrexed

Trial Overview

The trial is testing Durvalumab combined with chemotherapy before surgery against a placebo plus chemotherapy to see if it leads to complete removal of the tumor. It's randomized and double-blind meaning neither doctors nor patients know who gets the real drug versus placebo.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm 1: Durvalumab with platinum-based chemotherapy Experimental Treatment 7 Interventions

Patients will receive durvalumab 1500 mg in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles prior to surgery, followed by durvalumab 1500 mg monotherapy every 4 weeks for up to 12 cycles after surgery unless disease is deemed unresectable, disease recurrence, or unacceptable toxicity The platinum-based chemotherapy will be based on tumour histology and Investigator discretion: * cisplatin with pemetrexed * carboplatin with pemetrexed * carboplatin with paclitaxel * cisplatin with gemcitabine (or carboplatin with gemcitabine for patients who have comorbidities or who are unable to tolerate cisplatin per the investigator's judgment)

Group II: Arm 2: Placebo with platinum-based chemotherapy Placebo Group 7 Interventions

Patients will receive placebo in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles prior to surgery, followed by placebo monotherapy every 4 weeks for up to 12 cycles after surgery unless disease is deemed unresectable, disease recurrence, or unacceptable toxicity The platinum-based chemotherapy will be based on tumour histology and Investigator discretion: * cisplatin with pemetrexed * carboplatin with pemetrexed * carboplatin with paclitaxel * cisplatin with gemcitabine (or carboplatin with gemcitabine for patients who have comorbidities or who are unable to tolerate cisplatin per the investigator's judgment)

Carboplatin is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Paraplatin for:

• Ovarian cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Lung cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Brain cancer

Approved in European Union as Carboplatin for:

• Ovarian cancer
• Small cell lung cancer

Approved in Canada as Carboplatin for:

• Ovarian cancer
• Small cell lung cancer
• Testicular cancer

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

AstraZeneca

Lead Sponsor

Trials

4,491

Recruited

290,540,000+

Sir Pascal Soriot

AstraZeneca

Chief Executive Officer since 2012

Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris

Dr. Cristian Massacesi

AstraZeneca

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology

Pascal Soriot

AstraZeneca

Chief Executive Officer since 2012

Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris

Cristian Massacesi

AstraZeneca

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Medical Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology

Published Research Related to This Trial

In the CASPIAN study involving 805 patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), the combination of durvalumab and platinum-etoposide significantly improved overall survival compared to platinum-etoposide alone, with a median survival of 12.9 months versus 10.5 months.

However, adding tremelimumab to durvalumab and platinum-etoposide did not provide a significant survival benefit, indicating that durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide should be considered the new standard of care for first-line treatment of ES-SCLC.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab, plus platinum-etoposide versus platinum-etoposide alone in first-line treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (CASPIAN): updated results from a randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3 trial. Goldman, JW., Dvorkin, M., Chen, Y., et al.[2021]

In the phase III CASPIAN study, the combination of durvalumab with etoposide and either cisplatin or carboplatin significantly improved overall survival in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer compared to etoposide plus platinum alone.

Patient-reported outcomes showed that the addition of durvalumab not only maintained quality of life but also delayed the worsening of key symptoms like appetite loss, cough, and fatigue, indicating a beneficial impact on patients' overall well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient-reported outcomes with first-line durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide versus platinum-etoposide in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (CASPIAN): a randomized, controlled, open-label, phase III study. Goldman, JW., Garassino, MC., Chen, Y., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 812 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), single-agent pemetrexed showed promising efficacy, with a median time to progressive disease of 6.0 months for chemonaïve patients and an overall response rate of 10.5%.

The treatment was well-tolerated, exhibiting mild hematologic toxicity, primarily neutropenia, in less than 18% of patients, indicating a favorable safety profile for pemetrexed in this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Single-agent pemetrexed for chemonaïve and pretreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: results of an International Expanded Access Program. Taylor, P., Castagneto, B., Dark, G., et al.[2015]

In a study of 53 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had previously undergone platinum-based chemotherapy, treatment with pemetrexed plus cisplatin or carboplatin resulted in a median overall survival of 10 months and a median progression-free survival of 6 months.

The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with only a small percentage of patients experiencing severe side effects, such as grade 3 or 4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, indicating that pemetrexed combined with platinum-based drugs can be a safe option for these patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pemetrexed plus cisplatin/carboplatin in previously treated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients. Zhang, GZ., Jiao, SC., Meng, ZT.[2021]

In the phase III CASPIAN study, durvalumab combined with etoposide and either cisplatin or carboplatin significantly improved overall survival in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer, with a median overall survival of 12.9 months compared to 10.5 months for the control group.

After more than 3 years of follow-up, durvalumab plus etoposide showed a 36-month overall survival rate of 17.6%, indicating that this combination is a promising first-line treatment option for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab, plus platinum-etoposide in first-line treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: 3-year overall survival update from CASPIAN. Paz-Ares, L., Chen, Y., Reinmuth, N., et al.[2022]

In a study of 42 lung cancer patients receiving pemetrexed plus carboplatin, 19% experienced severe hematologic toxicities during the first cycle of chemotherapy, highlighting the significant risk associated with this treatment regimen.

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was found to significantly increase the risk of severe hematologic toxicities, suggesting that drug interactions may play a critical role in the toxicity experienced by patients, rather than renal function alone.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce severe hematologic toxicities in lung cancer patients receiving pemetrexed plus carboplatin: A retrospective cohort study. Kawazoe, H., Yano, A., Ishida, Y., et al.[2022]

The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has shown promising results in treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with reported 1-year survival rates as high as 54%, making it a widely used regimen in clinical practice.

This combination therapy has been effective without additional toxicity, allowing for full doses of both drugs to be administered, and is currently being evaluated in ongoing studies for earlier stages of the disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Paclitaxel/carboplatin in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Belani, CP.[2015]

In a meta-analysis of 486 patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, the pemetrexed plus carboplatin regimen at 5 mg/min•mL (PCb5) showed a significantly lower incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) compared to the 6 mg/min•mL (PCb6) regimen, including less thrombocytopenia, anemia, and fatigue.

Despite the differences in safety profiles, both PCb5 and PCb6 regimens demonstrated similar efficacy outcomes in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival, indicating that PCb5 may be a safer option without compromising treatment effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meta-analysis of pemetrexed plus carboplatin doublet safety profile in first-line non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer studies. Okamoto, I., Schuette, WH., Stinchcombe, TE., et al.[2018]

In a phase II trial involving 51 patients with untreated stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer, the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel showed an overall response rate of 27.5%, indicating some effectiveness in treating this aggressive cancer.

The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with modest toxicity levels; only 5% of patients experienced severe nonhematologic side effects, suggesting that this combination therapy could be a safe option for further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Paclitaxel plus carboplatin for advanced lung cancer: preliminary results of a Vanderbilt University phase II trial--LUN-46. Johnson, DH., Paul, DM., Hande, KR., et al.[2015]

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