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Phase III Lucanix™ Vaccine Therapy in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Following Front-line Chemotherapy

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Carcinoma Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IIIB
Carcinoma Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV
Lung Neoplasm
Carcinoma Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IIIA
Interventions
Other: Placebo Comparator
Biological: Lucanix™
Registration Number
NCT00676507
Lead Sponsor
NovaRx Corporation
Brief Summary

Rationale: Vaccines made from gene-modified tumor cells may help the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether vaccine therapy is more effective than a placebo as maintenance therapy in treatment of subjects with non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: This randomized phase III trial is studying vaccine therapy to see how well it works compared with a placebo in treating subjects with stage III or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Detailed Description

Primary Efficacy Endpoints:

* Compare the overall survival of subjects with stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with belagenpumatucel-L (Lucanix™) vs placebo.

Secondary Efficacy Endpoints:

* Evaluate the progression free survival (PFS) of subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment within the BSC control group.

* Evaluate the quality of life (QOL) as determined by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) compared to treatment within the BSC control group.

* Evaluate the time-to-progression of subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment within the BSC control group.

* Evaluate the best overall tumor response in subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment in the BSC control group.

* Evaluate the response duration in subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to the BSC control group.

* Evaluate the rate of CNS metastases development in subjects treated with Lucanix™ as compared to the BSC control group.

* Adverse events of subjects treated with Lucanix™ will be compared to subjects in the control group.

Outline: This is a multicenter study. Subjects are stratified according to disease stage (IIIA vs IIIB or IV), response to prior treatment with front-line chemotherapy (stable disease vs partial response or complete response), prior treatment with front-line chemotherapy and radiotherapy (front-line chemotherapy with radiotherapy vs front-line chemotherapy alone), and prior treatment with front-line chemotherapy and other anticancer therapy (front-line chemotherapy with bevacizumab vs front-line chemotherapy alone or in combination with another anticancer agent). Subjects are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Treatment Arm: Subjects receive belagenpumatucel-L (Lucanix™) intradermally (ID) once monthly for 18 months and then once at 21 and 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

* Control Arm: Subjects receive placebo ID once monthly for 18 months and then once at 21 and 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Blood samples are collected and analyzed for routine chemistry, cytokines, chemokines, and some instances circulating tumor cells, including response to multiple lung cancer-associated antigens by IFN-γ ELISPOT CD8+ assay; CEA by CD4 class II assay; lung tumor-associated antigens by in vitro proliferation assays; regulatory T-cell (Treg) phenotype by flow cytometry; and Treg function.

Subjects complete the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale quality of life questionnaire at baseline, on the days of treatment, 30 days after completion of study treatment, and then every 3 months for 1 year.

After completion of study treatment, subjects are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then annually for 4 years.

In two phase II trials, many subjects who received Lucanix™ at the same dose that will be administered in this trial had long-term disease stability with a good quality of life.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
532
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subjects with histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC who meet one of the following staging requirements:
  • Stage IIIA (T3N2 only) or
  • Stage IIIB or
  • Stage IV.
  • Subjects must have stable disease (SD) or an objective response (PR or CR) to a prior single, frontline, platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (additional prior adjuvant chemotherapy is permitted) consisting of up to six (6) treatment cycles with or without concomitant radiation therapy.
  • Not less than four weeks nor more than four months must have elapsed since the completion of the last chemotherapy cycle and registration into the study.
  • Subjects treated for brain metastasis(es) are eligible if they have been stable for ≥ 2 months.
  • Signed informed consent.
  • Not less than 18 years and not more than 75 years old.
  • Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
  • Performance status (ECOG) ≤ 2.
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm3.
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL.
  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3.
  • Albumin levels ≥ 2.5 g/dL.
  • Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN).
  • Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
  • Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 × ULN.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Concurrent systemic steroids > 2 mg /day prednisone (or prednisone-equivalent of prednisolone or dexamethasone).
  • Prior splenectomy.
  • Any surgery involving general anesthesia < 4 weeks prior to study registration.
  • Chemotherapy more than 4 months or less than 4 weeks prior to study registration.
  • Steroid therapy (excluding ≤ 2 mg/day prednisone or prednisone-equivalent of prednisolone or dexamethasone), radiation therapy, or immunotherapy less than 4 weeks prior to study registration.
  • Subjects with documented active brain metastasis(es) at the time of study entry are ineligible. However, subjects treated for brain metastasis(es) are eligible if they have been stable for ≥ 2 months.
  • Painful bone metastases, or bone metastases that require immediate therapy.
  • Significant and/or symptomatic pleural effusions. Presence of clinically detectable (by physical exam) third-space fluid collections, for example, pleural effusions that cannot be controlled by previous chemotherapy and/or drainage, or other procedures, prior to study entry.
  • Known allergies to eggs or soy.
  • Significant weight loss (≥ 10% body weight in preceding 6 weeks).
  • Known HIV positivity (EBV origin of replication in the pCHEK/HBA2 vector used to modify the vaccine components can trans-activate HIV).
  • Serious non-malignant disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, or active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infections) or other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise study objectives.
  • NCI CTC Grade 3 or 4 peripheral neuropathy at study registration.
  • Prior other malignancies (excluding non-melanoma carcinomas of the skin) unless in remission for ≥ 2 years.
  • History of psychiatric disorder that would impede ability to give informed consent or adherence to study requirements.
  • Pregnant or nursing women, or refusal to practice contraception if of reproductive potential.
  • Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
  • Known active Epstein-Barr infection within ≤ 60 days of study registration.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control ArmPlacebo ComparatorControl Arm: This course of therapy is Best Support Care (BSC) plus a placebo injection that consists of 0.15% Intralipid® in solution composed of the cryopreservation formulation minus the gene modified cells and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in a volume of 0.40 mL.
TreatmentLucanix™Treatment Arm: This course of therapy is Best Support Care (BSC) plus monthly intradermal (ID) injections of Lucanix™ (belagenpumatucel-L) consisting of 25,000,000 cells in a volume of 0.40 mL.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Compare the overall survival of subjects with stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with belagenpumatucel-L (Lucanix™) vs placebo.7 years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Evaluate the time-to-progression of subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment within the Best Supportive Care control group.3 years
Evaluate the best overall tumor response in subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment in the Best Supportive Care control group.3 years
Evaluate the response duration in subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to the Best Supportive Care control group.3 years
Evaluate the progression free survival (PFS) of subjects treated with Lucanix™ compared to treatment within the Best Support Care control group.3 years
Evaluate the rate of CNS metastases development in subjects treated with Lucanix™ as compared to the Best Supportive Care control group.7 years
Adverse events of subjects treated with Lucanix™ will be compared to subjects in the Best Supportive Care control group.7 years
Evaluate the quality of life (QOL) as determined by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) compared to treatment within the Best Supportive Care control group.3 years

Trial Locations

Locations (74)

Centrum Onkologii - Instytut im.Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie

🇵🇱

Warsaw, Poland

Klinicko-bolnicki centar Bezanijska kosa

🇷🇸

Belgrade, Serbia

Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Bakersfield, California, United States

Richmond University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Staten Island, New York, United States

Cancer Care of WNC

🇺🇸

Asheville, North Carolina, United States

Southern Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Mobile, Alabama, United States

Alaska Regional Hospital

🇺🇸

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Clopton Clinic Hematology/Oncology

🇺🇸

Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States

University of California, San Diego

🇺🇸

La Jolla, California, United States

Cancer Care Associates

🇺🇸

Redondo, California, United States

Sansum Clinic

🇺🇸

Santa Barbara, California, United States

UCLA Pasadena Oncology

🇺🇸

Pasadena, California, United States

Santa Barbara Hematology Oncology Medical Group, Inc.

🇺🇸

Santa Barbara, California, United States

UCLA Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Westlake Village, California, United States

Central Coast Medical Oncology Corporation

🇺🇸

Santa Maria, California, United States

UCLA Cancer Center-Valencia

🇺🇸

Valencia, California, United States

Pasco Hernando Oncology Associates, P.A.

🇺🇸

Brooksville, Florida, United States

Medical Specialist of Palm Beaches

🇺🇸

Lake Worth, Florida, United States

Space Coast Medical Center

🇺🇸

Titusville, Florida, United States

Ocala Oncology

🇺🇸

Ocala, Florida, United States

Atlanta Cancer Care

🇺🇸

Roswell, Georgia, United States

Kootenai Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States

St. Francis Medical Group Oncology and Hematology Specialists

🇺🇸

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Hematology Oncology Life Center

🇺🇸

Alexandria, Louisiana, United States

Iowa Blood and Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

University of Tennessee Cancer Institute

🇺🇸

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Hackensack, New Jersey, United States

Gabrail Cancer Center Research LLC

🇺🇸

Canton, Ohio, United States

Allergy Partners of West North Carolina

🇺🇸

Asheville, North Carolina, United States

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care

🇺🇸

Bronx, New York, United States

Texas Cancer Center Abilene, Texas Oncology P.A.

🇺🇸

Abilene, Texas, United States

Optim Oncology

🇺🇸

Midwest City, Oklahoma, United States

Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res Ctr/Univ. of Washington Med Ctr

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

Allison Cancer Center, Texas Oncology, P.A.

🇺🇸

Midland, Texas, United States

Marshfield Clinic Weston Center

🇺🇸

Weston, Wisconsin, United States

Davis Memorial Cancer Care Center

🇺🇸

Elkins, West Virginia, United States

Tyler Cancer Center, Texas Oncology

🇺🇸

Tyler, Texas, United States

Princess Margaret Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

University of Alberta Cross Cancer Institute

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Orszagos Koranyi TBC es Pulmonologiai Intezet

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Semmelweis Egyetem Pulmonológiai Klinika

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Csongrád Megyei Önkormányzat Mellkasi Betegségek Szakkórháza

🇭🇺

Deszk, Hungary

Fejér Megyei Szent György Kórház

🇭🇺

Székesfehérvár, Hungary

Országos Korányi TBC és Pulmonológiai Intézet

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Pest Megyei Tüdőgyógyintézet

🇭🇺

Törökbálint, Hungary

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Megyei Önkormányzat Jósa András Oktató Kórháza

🇭🇺

Nyíregyháza, Hungary

Gujarat Cancer Hospital and Research Institute

🇮🇳

Ahmedabad, India

SEAROC Cancer Center, S.K.

🇮🇳

Jaipur, India

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tata Memorial Hospital

🇮🇳

Mumbai, India

Academisch Medisch Centrum

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ziekenhuis Groep Twente - locatie Twenteborg Ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Almelo, Netherlands

Universitair Medisch Centrum Maastricht

🇳🇱

Maastricht, Netherlands

Akademickie Centrum Kliniczne Szpital Akademii Medycznej w Gdansku

🇵🇱

Gdansk, Poland

Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny nr 4

🇵🇱

Lublin, Poland

Wielkopolskie Centrum Pulmunologii i Torakochirurgii

🇵🇱

Poznan, Poland

Dolnoslaskie Centrum Chorob Pluc

🇵🇱

Wroclaw, Poland

Klinicki Centar Nis

🇷🇸

Nis, Serbia

Institute for pulmonary disease Sremska Kamenica

🇷🇸

Sremska Kamenica, Serbia

The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

🇬🇧

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology

🇬🇧

Bebington, Wirral, United Kingdom

Ninewells Hospital and Medical School

🇬🇧

Dundee, United Kingdom

Noble Hospital

🇮🇳

Pune, India

University of Minnesota Medical Center

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada

🇺🇸

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Innovative Research Center of California

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

University of Colorado Health Science Center

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

James Graham Brown Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research, Medical Oncology Branch

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Henry Ford Health System

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Cancer Center of the Carolinas

🇺🇸

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Guy's Hospital

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

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