Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Pemetrexed and Cisplatin vs. Vinorelbine and Cisplatin in NSCLC IB, IIA, IIB, T3N1: a Randomized Phase II Study

Derived from recent large randomized clinical trials, there is clear evidence for adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB-IIB (incidental IIIA) non-small cell lung cancer (Arriagada et al., 2004; Winton et al., 2005, Strauss et al., 2004, Douillard et al., 2005). The majority of patients in the adjuvant treatment setting received a combination of Cisplatin and Vinorelbine (Aragiada et al., 2004; Winton et al., 2005; Douillard et al., 2005). This combination improved 5 year-survival rates up to 15% (54% to 69%) (Winton et al., 2005). However, the combination of Cisplatin and Vinorelbine resulted in rates of grade 3/4 neutropenia of around 75%, rates of febrile neutropenia of up to 12.5% and rates of treatment related death of 1-2%. Up to 77% of the patients had at least one dose reduction or omission and 55% required one dose delay or more, most related to neutropenia. Only about 50 % of patients randomized on the combination of cisplatin and vinorelbine received the intended dose of Vinorelbine (dose reduction mainly due to toxicity) and only 50% of patients completed all four cycles of chemotherapy (Winton et al., 2005, Douillard et al., 2005, Alam et al., 2005).

Therefore it seems reasonable to test a less toxic regimen also in early stages after R0 resection of the tumor, where reduced toxicities might improve the feasibility of drug delivery, compliance and the convenience of treatment for the patient and hence perhaps survival.

Pemetrexed, a folate antimetabolite, shows clear activity in non-small cell lung cancer with several Phase II studies of Pemetrexed in combination with Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin, or Carboplatin showing efficacy similar to other standard platinum doublets, with response rates of 27% to 45% and median survival of 8.9 to 10.9 months (Scagliotti et al., 2005; Clarke et al., 2002; Rusthoven et al., 1999; Manegold et al., 2000; Shepherd et al., 2001). The combination of platin and Pemetrexed can be easily delivered and is well tolerated. Furthermore, it only results in a 25% rate of grade 3/4 neutropenia and in vitamin supplemented patients the incidence of febrile neutropenia was < 1%. Dose reductions occur only in 2-4% of the patients and dose delivery of the intended Pemetrexed and platin dose is excellent with dose deliveries of Pemetrexed up to 95% (Hanna et al., 2004; Vogelzang et al., 2003, Scagliotti et al., 2005).

In this randomized phase II trial, the clinical feasibility of the combination of Cisplatin and Pemetrexed as well as of the combination of Cisplatin and Vinorelbine will be assessed. Treatment is considered to have clinical feasibility if dose limiting toxicity will not be observed, and no non-acceptance by the patient leading to premature withdrawal, and no death due to cancer or cancer therapy will occur.

Patients will be randomized according to center, lobectomy vs. pneumonectomy and N0 vs. N1 to 4 cycles (arm A) of 500 mg/m2 pemetrexed d1, and Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 d1, q d22 versus (arm B) 25 mg/m2 Vinorelbine d1, 8, 15, 22, and Cisplatin 50 mg/m2 d1+8; q d29. Radiotherapy or maintenance therapy are not intended. Study drug administration will begin on d28 to d42 after R0 resection of the tumor and within 14 days after randomization.