Adebrelimab plus etoposide capsules as maintenance therapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

A Single-Arm, Exploratory Study of Adebrelimab Combined With Etoposide Capsules as Maintenance Therapy in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

This phase 2 trial will test whether adebrelimab combined with etoposide capsules as maintenance therapy helps people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer who had no progression after initial platinum-based chemotherapy with adebrelimab.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Tang-Du Hospital (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: Adebrelimab, chemotherapy, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Xi'an, Shannxi)
• Trial ID: NCT07141264 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, single-arm phase 2 study planned to enroll 32 participants at Tangdu Hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Eligible patients who achieve disease control after 4–6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy plus adebrelimab will receive maintenance adebrelimab combined with oral etoposide until radiographic progression or unacceptable toxicity. The study will monitor safety and efficacy outcomes during maintenance treatment with scheduled follow-up through December 2027. Key eligibility includes age 18–75, ECOG 0–2, at least one measurable lesion per RECIST 1.1, and adequate organ function.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–75 with extensive-stage SCLC who had no disease progression after 4–6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy combined with adebrelimab, have ECOG 0–2, measurable disease, and adequate organ function.

Not a fit: Patients whose disease progressed during induction therapy, who have poor organ function, or who cannot tolerate immunotherapy or etoposide are unlikely to benefit from this maintenance approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the regimen could prolong the time before tumor progression and potentially improve survival and quality of life for patients with extensive-stage SCLC.

How similar studies have performed: Other first-line trials combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy (for example atezolizumab and durvalumab) have shown benefits in extensive-stage SCLC, but single-arm maintenance regimens using adebrelimab remain relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Voluntary participation with signed informed consent and good compliance for follow-up.
2. Age between 18 and 75 years old.
3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) according to the AJCC 8th edition or VALG phase II staging criteria.
4. ECOG performance status score: 0 to 2.
5. Absence of disease progression after receiving 4-6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy combined with Adebrelimab induction therapy.
6. Recovery of non-hematologic adverse reactions to grade 1 (except for alopecia, skin pigment changes, or as determined by the investigator) following induction therapy.
7. Time from the end of induction treatment (last dose) to initiation of maintenance treatment ≤ 6 weeks.
8. At least one measurable lesion assessed by the investigator according to RECIST 1.1.
9. Normal function of major organs, meeting the following criteria:

(1)Bone marrow function: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5×10\^9/L (grade 1 according to CTCAE 5.0); platelets ≥ 100×10\^9/L; hemoglobin \> 80g/L.

(2)Renal function: Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), grade 1 according to CTCAE. Note: If creatinine is greater than 1.5 times the ULN, creatinine clearance must be \> 50ml/min.

(3)Liver function: Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN (grade 1 according to CTCAE), patients with Gilbert's syndrome bilirubin ≤ 3.0 times ULN; AST and ALT ≤ 3.0×ULN.

(4)Coagulation indicators: International normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.55 (if the patient is receiving a stable dose of therapeutic warfarin or low molecular weight heparin, INR is usually between 2 and 3), PTT \< 1.2 times ULN.

10.Women of childbearing potential must agree to use contraception during the study and for 6 months after the end of the study (such as an intrauterine device, contraceptive pills, or condoms); serum or urine pregnancy test must be negative within 1 week before enrollment, and must be non-lactating patients; men must agree to use contraception during the study and for 6 months after the end of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC);
2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed mixed histology SCLC;
3. Prior treatment with anti-angiogenic agents;
4. Conditions that may affect oral drug intake, such as inability to swallow, chronic diarrhea, or intestinal obstruction;
5. Major surgery, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks prior to enrollment;
6. Participation in another investigational drug clinical trial within 4 weeks prior to enrollment;
7. Relevant medical history:

(1)Untreated or symptomatic brain metastases or spinal cord compression; (2)Concurrent active malignancy requiring treatment; (3)Active autoimmune disease or immunodeficiency, or a history of such conditions, including but not limited to autoimmune hepatitis, interstitial lung disease, uveitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, hypophysitis, vasculitis, or nephritis.Exceptions include: patients with stable disease not requiring systemic immunosuppressive therapy, such as type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism controlled with hormone replacement therapy, or skin disorders not requiring systemic treatment (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia), or those with no external triggering factors and a low risk of recurrence; (4)History of psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with study compliance; 8.Presence of any severe and/or uncontrolled comorbid conditions, including but not limited to:

1. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP ≥150 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥100 mmHg);
2. Myocardial ischemia or infarction of grade I or higher, arrhythmias (including QTc ≥450 ms in males, ≥470 ms in females), congestive heart failure of NYHA class ≥2, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<50% on echocardiogram;
3. Decompensated diabetes mellitus or other contraindications requiring high-dose corticosteroids;
4. Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other serious respiratory disorders requiring hospitalization;
5. Active or uncontrolled severe infection (≥CTCAE grade 2);
6. Uncontrolled pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal effusion requiring repeated drainage;
7. Liver cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, active hepatitis, or chronic hepatitis requiring antiviral treatment;
8. Renal insufficiency: urine protein ≥++ on routine urinalysis and 24-hour urine protein \>1.0 g confirmed; 9.Severe infection within 4 weeks before the first dose, including but not limited to infectious complications, bacteremia, severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization, or infections requiring intravenous antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals; or unexplained fever \>38.5°C during screening or prior to first dose; 10.Grade III-IV immune-related adverse events (irAEs) during the induction phase with PD-L1 inhibitors; 11.Active brain or leptomeningeal metastases at enrollment; Exception: patients who received prior treatment (e.g., radiotherapy) for brain or leptomeningeal metastases during or before induction and had stable disease on imaging for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment, discontinued systemic steroid therapy (≤10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) for more than 4 weeks, and are asymptomatic, may be eligible; 12.Patients deemed by the investigator to be unable or unlikely to comply with the study protocol, restrictions, or requirements.

Where this trial is running

Xi'an, Shannxi

• Tangdu Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University — Xi'an, Shannxi, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Lei Pan, Dr

Conditions SCLC,Extensive Stage; SCLC; Adebrelimab; Etoposide Capsules; Maintenance Therapy