NCI ID NCI-2018-03695
NCT ID NCT03793179
CTEP ID EA5163
Primary Purpose TREATMENT
Anatomic Sites Lung
Minimum Age 18 Years
Maximum Age 999 Years
Gender BOTH
Lead Org ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group
Principal Investigator Hossein Borghaei
NCI Site View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Testing the Timing of Pembrolizumab Alone or With Chemotherapy as First Line Treatment and Maintenance in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

This phase III trial studies whether pembrolizumab alone as a first-line treatment, followed by pemetrexed and carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab after disease progression is superior to induction with pembrolizumab, pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by pembrolizumab and pemetrexed maintenance in treating patients with stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body’s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as pemetrexed, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. It is not yet known whether giving first-line pembrolizumab followed by pemetrexed and carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab works better in treating patients with non-squamous non-small cell cancer.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criterea

  • Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV non-squamous non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (includes M1a, M1b, and M1c stage disease, American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] 8th edition). Patients with stage IIIB and IIIC disease are eligible if they are not candidates for combined chemotherapy and radiation. Prior chemo-radiation therapy (RT) for stage III with recurrence is allowed
  • Patients must have PD-L1 expression Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) >= 1% in tumor cells. If PD-L1 expression TPS is unevaluable or the testing could not be completed, the patients are not eligible. The assay must have been performed by a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) (or equivalent) certified laboratory
  • Patients must have measurable or non-measurable disease. The presence of malignant pleural fluid alone is sufficient to satisfy this eligibility criterion. Baseline imaging assessments and measurements used to evaluate all measurable or non-measurable sites of disease must be done within 4 weeks prior to study registration * NOTE: If patient receives pemetrexed, follow institutional guidelines to drain fluids * NOTE: An additional 15 days is allowed to account for any infection/exposure related logistical delays
  • Patients must be >= 18 years of age
  • Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1
  • Patients must NOT have received the following: * Prior systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy for advanced metastatic NSCLC. Patients treated with any prior checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic lung cancer are ineligible. Chemotherapy for non-metastatic disease (e.g. adjuvant therapy) or immunotherapy for locally advanced stage III disease, or treated with neoadjuvant IO is allowed if at least 6 months have elapsed between the last dose of the prior therapy and study registration. Local therapy, e.g. palliative radiation, is allowed as long as a period of 14 days has passed between completion of local therapy and the start of protocol treatment. Registration during the 14 days is allowed. Palliative radiation must be to non-target lesions. Palliative radiation to pre-existing lesions while on protocol treatment is allowed as long as these areas have not grown to RECIST defined progression. Development of any new metastasis is considered progression. Concurrent radiation and protocol treatment is not allowed; protocol treatment may resume after completion of radiation as long as patient does not have greater than grade 2 side effects from radiation per physician discretion. * Methotrexate (MTX) given in low doses for non-malignant conditions with last dose at least 14 days prior to date of registration will be allowed. Other low dose chemotherapeutics for non-malignant conditions will be considered, but review by the study chair is required * Palliative radiation to non-target lesions (bone metastasis) is allowed if the patient develops symptoms
  • Patients with known EGFR mutations (except exon 20 insertion), BRAF mutations (V600) or ALK or ROS1 translocations or other driver mutations that can be treated with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors are excluded
  • Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging obtained at least 14 days after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression. CNS progression counts as progression and patients must move on to the next phase after CNS treatment. Patients with asymptomatic new (at screening) or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases at screening) are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy * Patients are eligible if off steroids for at least 14 days prior to protocol treatment * Anticonvulsants are allowed * Patients with asymptomatic, sub-centimeter brain metastasis who at the discretion of investigators do not need immediate CNS directed therapies are eligible
  • Patients with prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
  • Patients must not have known pre-existing and clinically active interstitial lung disease, or a known history of (non infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, or current pneumonitis
  • Patients must not have significant gastrointestinal disorders with diarrhea as a major symptom (e.g., Crohn’s disease, malabsorption, etc.)
  • Patients must not have history of auto-immune condition (including Guillain-Barre Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis) requiring ongoing or intermittent systemic treatment in the past 2 years prior to registration (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment
  • Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
  • Patients must not have any other concomitant serious illness or organ system dysfunction that in the opinion of the investigator would either compromise patient safety or interfere with the evaluation of the safety of the study drug
  • Patients must not receive any other investigational agents during the course of therapy
  • Patients must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to potential harm to the fetus or infant from cytotoxic chemotherapy and the unknown risk of pembrolizumab (MK-3475). All patients of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 72 hours prior to registration to rule out pregnancy. A patient of childbearing potential is anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point; 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 3) has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)
  • Patients must use accepted and effective method(s) of contraception or by abstaining from sexual intercourse from time of registration, while on study treatment, and continue for 120 days after the last dose of study treatment
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1500/mm^3 (within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Platelets >= 100,000/mm^3 (within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) (only if on active anticoagulation with warfarin or any formulations of heparin) =< 3.0 (within 14 day prior to randomization)
  • Total bilirubin =< 1.5 mg/dL (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) < 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) < 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Calculated creatinine clearance >= 45 ml/min to be eligible to receive pemetrexed (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum creatinine =< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Patients must not have a known history of active tuberculosis (TB)
  • Patients must not have a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receive systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of protocol treatment
  • Patients must not have received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to randomization. Patients are permitted to receive inactivated vaccines and any non-live vaccines including those for the seasonal influenza and COVID-19 (Note: intranasal influenza vaccines, such as Flu-Mist [registered trademark] are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed). If possible, it is recommended to separate study drug administration from vaccine administration by about a week (primarily, in order to minimize an overlap of adverse events)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
  • For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable or on suppressive therapy, if indicated. Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load

Exclusion Criterea


Participating Clinics

North Star Lodge Cancer Center at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital


808 North 39th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
Map

509-574-3535
Memorial-ClinicalTrials@yvmh.org

GenesisCare USA - Las Vegas


3006 South Maryland Parkway
Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89109
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Kingman Regional Medical Center


3269 Stockton Hill Road
Kingman, AZ 86401
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

PCR Oncology


584 Camino Mercado
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Lake Huron Medical Center


2601 Electric Avenue
Port Huron, MI 48060
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Huron Medical Center PC


1214 Richardson Street
Port Huron, MI 48060
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center


3186 South Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Renown Regional Medical Center


1155 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center


235 West Sixth Street
Reno, NV 89503
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

University Medical Center of Southern Nevada


1800 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

HealthCare Partners Medical Group Oncology/Hematology-Maryland Parkway


3006 South Maryland Parkway
Suite 205 Las Vegas, NV 89109
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada - Central Valley


3730 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Cancer and Blood Specialists-Henderson


2460 West Horizon Ridge Parkway
Henderson, NV 89052
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Alliance for Childhood Diseases/Cure 4 the Kids Foundation


One Breakthrough Way
Las Vegas, NV 89135
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada


9280 West Sunset Road
Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89148
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Radiation Oncology Associates


6630 B South McCarran
Suite 18 Reno, NV 89509
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Radiation Oncology Centers of Nevada Central


624 South Tonopah Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89106
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada - Northwest


7445 Peak Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center


1535 Medical Parkway
Pharmacy Suite C Carson City, NV 89703
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada - Henderson


10001 South Eastern Avenue
Suite 108 Henderson, NV 89052
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

HealthCare Partners Medical Group Oncology/Hematology-Tenaya


2851 North Tenaya Way
Suite 101 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

GenesisCare USA - Henderson


52 North Pecos Road
Henderson, NV 89074
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Cancer Center-Henderson


2904 West Horizon Ridge Parkway
Suite 200 Henderson, NV 89052
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada-Southeast Henderson


1505 Wigwam Parkway
Suite 130 Henderson, NV 89074
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Cancer Center-Medical Center


6450 Medical Center Street
Las Vegas, NV 89148-2405
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Radiation Oncology Centers of Nevada Southeast


3980 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

GenesisCare USA - Fort Apache


6160 South Fort Apache Road
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

GenesisCare USA - Vegas Tenaya


2851 North Tenaya Way
Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Cancer and Blood Specialists-Shadow


701 Shadow Lane
Suite 300 Las Vegas, NV 89106
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

OptumCare Cancer Care at Fort Apache


6190 South Fort Apache Road
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

HealthCare Partners Medical Group Oncology/Hematology-San Martin


8285 West Arby Avenue
Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89113
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

HealthCare Partners Medical Group Oncology/Hematology-Centennial Hills


6850 North Durango Drive
Suite 120 Las Vegas, NV 89149
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada-Summerlin


655 North Town Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89144
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Summerlin Hospital Medical Center


657 Town Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89144
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Cancer and Blood Specialists-Tenaya


3150 North Tenaya Way
Suite 430 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Ann M Wierman MD LTD


3150 Tenaya Way
Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada-Horizon Ridge


2460 West Horizon Ridge Parkway
Henderson, NV 89052
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

OptumCare Cancer Care at MountainView


3150 North Tenaya Way
Suite 510 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

University Cancer Center


3131 La Canada Street
Suite 231 Las Vegas, NV 89169
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Hope Cancer Care of Nevada


6827 West Tropicana Avenue
Suite 110 Las Vegas, NV 89103
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

OptumCare Cancer Care at Charleston


2300 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Map

702-384-0013

Desert West Surgery


1111 Shadow Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Hope Cancer Care of Nevada-Pahrump


2340 East Calvada Boulevard
Suite 7 Pahrump, NV 89048
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

OptumCare Cancer Care at Seven Hills


3175 Saint Rose Parkway
Suite 200 Henderson, NV 89052
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada - Town Center


653 North Town Center Drive
Suite 402 Las Vegas, NV 89144
Map

702-384-0013
research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Urology - Green Valley


1701 North Green Valley Parkway
Suite 10C Henderson, NV 89074
Map


research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Urology - Pecos


9053 South Pecos Road
Suite 2900 Las Vegas, NV 89074
Map


research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Urology - Cathedral Rock


7200 Cathedral Rock Drive
Suites 180 and 210 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map


research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Urology - Pebble


8915 South Pecos Road
Suite 19A Henderson, NV 89074
Map


research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Urology - Sunset


7150 West Sunset Road
Suite 201A and 202B Las Vegas, NV 89113
Map


research@sncrf.org

Urology Specialists of Nevada - Green Valley


58 North Pecos Road
Henderson, NV 89074
Map


research@sncrf.org

Las Vegas Prostate Cancer Center


7150 West Sunset Road
Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89113
Map


research@sncrf.org

Urology Specialists of Nevada - Northwest


3150 North Tenaya Way
Suite 165 Las Vegas, NV 89128
Map


research@sncrf.org

Urology Specialists of Nevada - Southwest


8410 West Warm Springs Road
Suite 10 Las Vegas, NV 89113
Map


research@sncrf.org

Urology Specialists of Nevada - Central


2010 Wellness Way
Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89106
Map


research@sncrf.org

Valley Medical Center


400 South 43rd Street
Renton, WA 98055
Map

425-228-3440
research@valleymed.org