RecruitingInterventionalPhase 2

Phase II Pilot Study of Performance Status 2 vs. Performance Status 0-1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Chemo/Immunotherapy

NCT ID: NCT04253964Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health SciencesLast updated: 2026-03-19

Summary

This pilot study is configured as a non-inferiority comparison of Performance Status 2 patients with Performance Status 0-1 patients, with the goal of demonstrating non-inferiority in terms of efficacy (progression-free survival, overall survival) and safety (rates of adverse events, quality of life) when treating Performance Status 2 patients with the same first-line immunotherapy-based regimen as Performance Status 0-1 patients.

Detailed description

Primary Objective: To demonstrate that proportion of Performance Status 2 participants with progression-free survival at 12 weeks is not inferior to the corresponding proportion of Performance Status 0-1 patients. Secondary Objective(s) * To demonstrate that incidence of treatment-related adverse events at 12 weeks in the Performance Status 2 group is not higher than that occurring in the Performance Status 0-1 groups. * To demonstrate that change in overall quality of life/global health status at 12 weeks is not inferior in the Performance Status 2 group compared to the change in the Performance Status 0-1 group. * To demonstrate that proportion of participants with deterioration in lung-cancer specific symptoms at 12 weeks in the Performance Status 2 group is not higher than the corresponding proportion in the Performance Status 0-1 group.

Arms & interventions

DrugPembrolizumab
ALL PARTICIPANTS: Pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for 4 cycles. Participants with predictive biomarker PD-L1 greater than or equal to 50% will not receive any other drugs besides pembrolizumab.
DrugCarboplatin
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EITHER ARM with non-squamous OR squamous subtype, predictive biomarker PD-L1 less than 50%: Carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5 IV on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for 4 cycles.
DrugPaclitaxel
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EITHER ARM with squamous subtype, predictive biomarker PD-L1 less than 50%: Paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 IV on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for 4 cycles.
DrugNab paclitaxel
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EITHER ARM with squamous subtype, predictive biomarker PD-L1 less than 50%: Nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 on day 1, 8, 15 of 3-week cycle for 4 cycles.
OtherQuality of Life Questionnaire, lung cancer-specific (QLQ-LC13)
The QLQ-C30 is composed of both multi-item scales and single-item measures. These include five functional scales, three symptom scales, a global health status / QoL scale, and six single items.
OtherQLQ-C30 Global Health/Quality of Life Questionnaire
30 item questionnaire - Functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, social), symptom scales (fatigue, pain, and nausea and vomiting), global health status and quality of life scale, also several single-item symptom measures
OtherCOPD Assessment Test and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Patient Reported Outcomes
Dyspnea scale scores in patients with respiratory disease (particularly COPD) to establish baseline functional dyspnea burden (taken pre-study at Week 0 and Post Treatment at week 13)
DrugPemetrexed
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EITHER ARM with nonsquamous subtype, predictive biomarker PD-L1 less than 50%: Pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 IV on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for 4 cycles.

Outcome measures

Primary

Proportion of Participants with Progression-Free Survival
Using non-blinded central imaging using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 to define progressive disease. RECIST v 1.1 criteria: * Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. * Partial Response (PR): Decrease by ≥ 30% in sum of longest diameter of target lesions. * Stable Disease (SD): Not meeting criteria for CR, PR, or PD. * Progressive Disease (PD): Increase by ≥ 20% in sum of longest diameter of target lesions or the appearance of one or more new lesions. Participants that did not have radiographically measurable metastatic disease by RECIST criteria before starting treatment, progression is defined as the development of new lesions or by unequivocal progression of existing non-target lesions.
Time frame: From baseline to end of 4th cycle of treatment (12 weeks)

Secondary

Incidences of Grade 3 to Grade 5 Treatment-Related Adverse Events
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in Overall Quality of Life/Global Health Status - EORTC QLQ-C30
Time frame: From baseline to end of 4th cycle of treatment (12 weeks)
Proportion of Participants with Deterioration in Symptoms - QLQ-LC13
Time frame: From baseline to end of 4th cycle of treatment (12 weeks)

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have a cytological or histological diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer that is metastatic or unresectable for which standard curative measures do not exist. * No prior systemic treatment with either chemotherapy or immunotherapy for non-curative intent. Patients may have previously received cancer treatment with curative intent for prior early-stage disease. * At least 18 years old. * ECOG performance status of 0-2, as determined by the treating physician in the consult note. * Life expectancy of greater than 3 months. * Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: * absolute neutrophil count ≥1,000/mcL * platelets ≥100,000/mcL * Chemotherapy agents are known to be teratogenic, therefore women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an IRB-approved informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria: * Nonsmall cell lung cancer that is known at registration to be positive for a tumor activating alteration for which first line targeted therapy is indicated9; specifically, a targetable mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), gene rearrangement of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), gene rearrangement of c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1), or mutation in B isoform of rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (B-Raf). For non-squamous subtypes, molecular testing of tumor and peripheral blood should be attempted for actionable biomarkers, but if there is an insufficient quantity of tumor material for testing and it is not feasible to attempt additional biopsies before starting systemic therapy, then these biomarker results are not necessary for inclusion on the study. For squamous subtype, molecular testing should be considered but is not necessary for inclusion on the study. * Known to have an active autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, systemic corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). * History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required systemic corticosteroids. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Pregnant women are excluded from this study because of the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects with chemotherapy. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with chemotherapy, breastfeeding should be discontinued.

Study locations (1)

Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27105

Recruiting

Study Nurse · Contact

saverill@wakehealth.edu

Thomas Lycan, Jr., DO, MHS · Principal Investigator