About the study

This is a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the treatment efficacy and feasibility of combining thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) with the IMpower133 regimen in the upfront treatment of ED SCLC patients. Patients with a response after induction therapy with carboplatin/etoposide and atezolizumab will be included into this study to subsequently receive atezolizumab maintenance therapy and will be randomized to receive TRT or not. This trial aims to i.) increase the efficacy of combined atezolizumab- and chemotherapy by adding radiotherapy and ii.) determine the safety and tolerability of the combination of chemotherapeutic, immunological and radiological treatment in the first-line setting of advanced SCLC, and iii.) to collect tumor tissue as well as blood and stool samples for separate biomarker research project.

Who can take part?

You may be eligible to participate in the study if you meet the following criteria:

Inclusion criteria

1. Fully-informed written consent and locally required authorization (European Union [EU] Data Privacy Directive in the EU) obtained from the patient/legal representative prior to performing any protocol-related procedures, including screening evaluations.
2. Age ≥ 18 years.
3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed ED SCLC as defined according to the Veterans Administration Lung Study Group staging system.
4. Measurable ED SCLC according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1. In cases of CR or PR without residual measurable disease after 4 cycles of induction therapy, patients may still be included. In such cases "No Evidence of Disease (NED)" should be reported in eCRF.
5. ECOG performance status score of 0 or 1 at screening
6. Any response after four cycles of standard chemo-immunotherapy (carboplatin, etoposide, atezolizumab) defined as CR/PR or thoracic SD with CR/PR of extrathoracic lesions as per RECIST 1.1
7. Thoracic treatment volume considered treatable using acceptable radiation fields as judged by a radiation oncologist
8. 28 ± 7 days between last administration of chemo-immunotherapy (carboplatin, etoposide, atezolizumab) and randomization.
9. Patients with a history of treated CNS metastases are eligible, if there is no ongoing requirement for corticosteroids as therapy for CNS disease. Before randomization, MRI of brain (with contrast, unless contraindicated) is recommended in subjects with suspected or known brain metastases, as per local standard., Patients with asymptomatic brain metastases that do not require local therapy with irradiation (whole brain irradiation) can be included. In ambiguous cases, consultation with the LKP or his/her delegate is advised.
10. No previous radiotherapy to lung and mediastinal lymph nodes within the past 5 years before the first dose of study drug.
11. Availability of pre-treatment tumor tissue specimen
12. The patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, including hospital visits for treatment and scheduled follow-up visits and examinations.
13. FEV1 ≥ 40% (%Soll)
14. Adequate bone marrow and renal function including the following:
15. Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL;
16. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 x 10^9/L;
17. Platelets ≥75x 10^9/L;
18. Calculated creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault equation
19. Adequate hepatic function (with stenting for any obstruction, if required) including the following:
20. Serum bilirubin ≤ 3 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN);
21. AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5x ULN Following exceptions apply:
22. Patients with documented liver metastases: AST and/or ALT ≤ 5x ULN
23. Patients with documented liver or bone metastases: alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5x ULN.
24. Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to start of trial.
25. Evidence of post-menopausal status or negative urinary or serum pregnancy test for female pre-menopausal patients. Women will be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. The following age-specific requirements apply:
26. Women <50 years of age would be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatments and if they have luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the post-menopausal range for the institution or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy).
27. Women ≥50 years of age would be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments, had radiation-induced menopause with last menses >1 year ago, had chemotherapy-induced menopause with last menses >1 year ago, or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy or hysterectomy).

Exclusion criteria

1. Previous treatment with CD137 agonists, immune-checkpoint blockade therapies, anti-PD-1, or anti-PD-L1 therapeutic antibodies (with the exclusion of prior immunotherapy as defined in inclusion criterion 6).
2. Prior therapy for limited-stage SCLC with curative intent.
3. Prior radiotherapy of lung and mediastinal lymph nodes within the past 5 years before the first dose of study drug.
4. Oxygen-dependent medical condition.
5. History or current radiology suggestive of interstitial lung disease (ILD) (including but not limited to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA)), non-infectious pneumonitis, drug-induced pneumonitis, idiopathic pneumonitis.
6. Criterion removed.
7. Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study, unless it is an observational (non-interventional) clinical study, or during the follow-up period of an interventional study.
8. Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product within 21 days prior to the first dose of the study treatment.
9. Any concurrent chemotherapy, investigational product (IMP), biologic, or hormonal therapy for cancer treatment. Concurrent use of hormonal therapy for non-cancer related conditions (e.g., hormone replacement therapy) is acceptable.
10. Major surgery (as defined by the Investigator) within 4 weeks prior to enrollment into the study; patients must have recovered from effects of any major surgery. Note: Local non-major surgery for palliative intent is acceptable.
11. Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (including but not limited to diverticulitis [with the exception of diverticulosis], celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis, or Wegener's syndrome [granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis). The following are exceptions to this criterion:
12. Patients with vitiligo or alopecia
13. Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g., following Hashimoto's disease) stable on hormone replacement
14. Patients with controlled Type I diabetes mellitus on an insulin regimen
15. Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy
16. Patients without active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the study physician.
17. Active, uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease [e.g. ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease]. Patients in stable remission for more than 1 year may be included.
18. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, interstitial lung disease, gastrointestinal conditions associated with diarrhea, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirement, substantially increase risk of incurring AEs or compromise the ability of the patient to give written informed consent.
19. History of another primary malignancy except for:
20. Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease ≥ 3 years before the first dose of IMP and of low potential risk for recurrence
21. Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease
22. Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
23. History of active primary immunodeficiency
24. History of allogenic organ or tissue transplantation.
25. Clinical diagnosis of active tuberculosis.
26. Positive testing for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBV sAg) or hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) indicating acute or chronic infection. Patients with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] and absence of HBsAg) are eligible. Patients positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
27. Positive testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
28. Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of atezolizumab. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
29. Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (e.g. intra articular injection)
30. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent
31. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. CT scan premedication)
32. Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding or male or female patients of reproductive potential who are not willing to employ effective birth control from screening to 5 months after the last dose of atezolizumab monotherapy.
33. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to the IMP or any of the constituents of the product.
34. Any co-existing medical condition that in the investigator's judgement will substantially increase the risk associated with the patient's participation in the study.
35. Patient who has been incarcerated or involuntarily institutionalized by court order or by the authorities.
36. Patients who are unable to consent because they do not understand the nature, significance and implications of the clinical trial and therefore cannot form a rational intention in the light of the facts.

For a full list of inclusion/exclusion criteria, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov

Study locations

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