Combining Almonertinib with targeted radiotherapy for advanced lung cancer

Efficacy and Safety of Almonertinib Combined With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) in the Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With EGFR Sensitive Mutation: a Single-arm, Open-label Clinical Trial

This study is testing if combining a targeted lung cancer drug called Almonertinib with a specific type of radiation therapy can help people with advanced lung cancer live longer and feel better.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Chongqing University Cancer Hospital (other)
• Drugs / interventions: almonertinib, chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT06481566 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Almonertinib, a targeted therapy, combined with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has an EGFR-sensitive mutation. Participants will receive Almonertinib for 2-4 months before undergoing SABR to treat remaining lung lesions, followed by maintenance treatment with Almonertinib. The study will monitor progression-free survival and assess the safety of this combined approach. Regular check-ups and symptom diaries will be maintained by participants throughout the trial.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-75 with unresectable stage IIIB-IV NSCLC and confirmed EGFR-sensitive mutations.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received systemic therapy for NSCLC or those with extensive metastatic disease beyond oligometastatic lesions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment combination could significantly improve progression-free survival for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

How similar studies have performed: While the combination of targeted therapy and radiotherapy is a promising approach, this specific combination of Almonertinib and SABR is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18 years or older (including 18 years) and less than 75 years (including 75 years).
2. Subjects with histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable NSCLC and stage IIIB-IV tumours (as determined by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Manual of Thoracic Tumour Staging, 8th edition). Oligometastatic lesions (≤5) in the brain on head-enhanced MRI were eligible for enrolment, and at least 1 lesion in the brain could be accurately measured at baseline, with the longest diameter at baseline ≥5 mm. Measurements were made by MRI (layer thickness 1.5 mm).
3. Have not received any systemic therapy after diagnosis of NSCLC or have not progressed with 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy.
4. Tumour tissue samples or blood samples diagnosed with NSCLC are tested and confirmed to have an EGFR-sensitive mutation (including exon 19 deletion or L858R, either alone or coexisting with mutations in other EGFR loci). Tumour tissue is recommended if the tumour tissue is accessible; if the tumour tissue is inaccessible or the patient is not amenable to tissue biopsy, blood samples will be sent to test EGFR mutation.
5. Patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical status score of 0 or 1 and no deterioration in the previous 2 weeks, with a minimum expected survival of 12 weeks.
6. At least 1 tumour lesion in the patient's lungs can be accurately measured at baseline with a longest diameter of ≥10 mm at baseline (in the case of lymph nodes, a short diameter of ≥15 mm is required). The measurement method of choice is suitable for accurate repeat measurements, either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Only 1 measurable lesion is accepted as a target lesion if it is present, subject to baseline evaluation of the tumour lesion at least 14 days after diagnostic biopsy. And the primary residual lung lesion is suitable for SBRT after targeted therapy.
7. Women of childbearing potential are required to use adequate contraception and should not be breastfeeding from screening until 3 months after discontinuation of study treatment. Negative pregnancy test prior to initiation of dosing or no risk of pregnancy as evidenced by meeting one of the following criteria:

   1. Postmenopausal defined as amenorrhoea for at least 12 months after age greater than 50 years and cessation of all exogenous hormone replacement therapy;
   2. Women younger than 50 years of age may also be considered postmenopausal if they have had amenorrhoea for 12 months or more after cessation of all exogenous hormone therapy and have luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in the range of laboratory postmenopausal reference values.
   3. Previous irreversible sterilisation including hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with the exception of bilateral tubal ligation.
8. Barrier contraception (i.e., condoms) should be used by male patients from screening until 3 months after discontinuation of study treatment.
9. Subjects participate voluntarily and sign a written informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects will not be enrolled in the study if they fulfil any of the following criteria:

1. Patients with postoperative recurrence.
2. Non-primary patients who have received any of the following prior treatments:

   1. prior use of any EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI);
   2. prior radiotherapy for any lung cancer;
   3. patient has undergone major surgery within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug;
   4. use of a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4, an inducer, or a drug with a narrow therapeutic window that is a CYP3A4-sensitive substrate within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
3. Patients with other malignancies that require standardised treatment or major surgery within 2 years of the first dose of study treatment.
4. Patients who are amenable to surgical resection.
5. Patients with progression within 3 months of targeted therapy.
6. Patients with unrelieved residual toxicity from prior therapy greater than CTCAE grade 1 at the time of initiation of study treatment, with the exception of alopecia and grade 2 neurotoxicity from prior chemotherapy.
7. Patients with uncontrolled pleural effusion and/or pericardial effusion.
8. Have any serious or poorly controlled systemic disease such as poorly controlled hypertension, active bleeding prone constitution or active infection as judged by the investigator. Exclusion of chronic diseases is not required.
9. Refractory nausea, vomiting or chronic gastrointestinal disorders, inability to swallow study medication or a history of extensive bowel resection that may interfere with adequate absorption of almonertinib.
10. Cardiac findings consistent with any of the following:

    1. resting electrocardiogram (ECG) examination yielding a corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 470 msec, applying the Fridericia formula for QT interval correction (QTcF);
    2. resting ECG suggests the presence of a variety of clinically significant rhythmic, conduction, or ECG morphological abnormalities (e.g., complete left bundle-branch block, third-degree atrioventricular conduction).
    3. presence of any factor that increases the risk of QTc prolongation or arrhythmic events, such as heart failure, hypokalaemia, congenital long QT syndrome, family history of long QT syndrome, or sudden unexplained death in an immediate family member under the age of 40 years or any combination of medications that prolong the QT interval;
    4. left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%.
11. History of interstitial lung disease or any evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease.
12. Inadequate bone marrow reserve or organ function at the following laboratory limits:

    1. Absolute neutrophil count \< 1.5 x 10\^9 / L;
    2. Platelet count \< 100 x 10\^9 / L;
    3. Haemoglobin \< 90 g/L (\< 9 g/dL);
    4. Alanine aminotransferase \> 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN);
    5. Aspartate aminotransferase \> 2.5 x ULN;
    6. Total bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN; or presence of Gilbert's syndrome (unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia);
    7. Creatinine \> 1.5 x ULN and creatinine clearance \< 50 mL/min (calculated by the Cockcroft - Gault formula); confirmation of creatinine clearance is required only if creatinine \> 1.5 x ULN.
13. Women who are breastfeeding or who have had a positive blood or urine pregnancy test result within 3 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
14. History of hypersensitivity to any active or inactive ingredient of almonertinib or to a drug with a similar chemical structure to almonertinib or an analogue of almonertinib.
15. Any serious or uncontrolled ocular pathology that, in the judgement of the physician, may increase the risk to the patient's safety.
16. Patients who, in the judgement of the investigator, may have poor compliance with the procedures and requirements of the study.
17. Patients who, in the judgement of the investigator, have any condition that jeopardises patient safety or interferes with the assessment of the study.

Where this trial is running

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality

• Chongqing University Cancer Hospital — Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Wei Zhou, Dr. — Chongqing University Cancer Hospital
• Study coordinator: Dan Tao, Dr.

Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Non-small cell lung cancer, Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy, EGFR-TKI