Efficacy and safety of ceritinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM): Results from the phase II, ASCEND-7 study

Abstract

Background: LM are seen in approximately 5% of ALK+ NSCLC patients (pts), and are associated with poor prognosis with standard treatment. Ceritinib is highly active in ALK+ NSCLC pts with previously reported intracranial/central nervous system activity. We report the efficacy and safety of ceritinib in ALK+ NSCLC pts with LM enrolled in the ASCEND-7 study (NCT02336451). Method(s): Pts with documented ALK + (FISH) NSCLC, CSF invasiveness with radiologically or cytologically confirmed LM, and >=1 extracranial measurable lesion using RECIST v1.1 were eligible. The study objectives included evaluation of antitumor activity based on overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Data cut-off was Feb 6, 2019. Result(s): Of the 18 LM pts enrolled, 14 pts (77.8%) also had brain metastases and 8 pts (44.4%) had measurable brain metastases at baseline. Majority of the pts (n = 16, 88.9%) had received prior crizotinib and 7 pts (38.9%) had received prior brain radiotherapy. Median duration of exposure to ceritinib was 18.1 weeks (range: 1.7-125.9). Whole body ORR by investigator assessment was 16.7% (95% CI: 3.6, 41.4) with median duration of response of 5.5 months (95% CI: 3.7, 9.9) and a clinically significant median PFS of 5.2 months (95% CI: 1.6, 7.2). Median duration of follow-up for PFS was 3.84 months (range: 0.5-13). Additional efficacy endpoints are included in the below Table. Adverse events (AEs, all grades, regardless of study drug relationship) were reported in all 18 pts. Grade 3/4 AEs occurring in >= 10% of pts were increased alanine aminotransferase (22.2%), hyperglycemia (16.7%), increased gammaglutamyltransferase (11.1%), pneumonia (11.1%), and increased lipase (11.1%). Table: Efficacy results [Table presented] Conclusion(s): Ceritinib demonstrated a clinically meaningful efficacy and a safety profile similar to earlier reported results in this largest reported set of ALK+ NSCLC pts with LM. Clinical trial identification: NCT02336451. Editorial acknowledgement: Aarti Kamaraj, Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd (Hyderabad, India). Legal entity responsible for the study: Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Funding(s): Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Disclosure: F. Barlesi: Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Oncology; Honoraria (self): F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Novartis, Merck, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer and Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie, ACEA, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eisai, Eli Lilly Oncology, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech, Ipsen, Ignyta, Innate Pharma, Loxo, Novartis, Medimmune, Merck, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis; Non-remunerated activity/ies, Principal investigator: AstraZeneca, BMS, Merck, Pierre Fabre and F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd, sponsored trials (or ISR); Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda. D. Kim: Research grant / Funding (institution): Alpha Biopharma, AstraZeneca/Medimmune, Hanmi, Janssen, Merus, Mirati Therapeutics, MSD, Novartis, ONO Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Takeda, TP Therapeutics, Xcovery, and Yuhan. E.M. Bertino: Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pfizer. M.J. van den Bent: Honoraria (self): Celgene, Agios, Boehringer, BMS, Abbvie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie. H. Wakelee: Honoraria (self): Novartis, AZ; Advisory / Consultancy, Compensated: AstraZeneca, Xcovery, Janssen; Advisory / Consultancy, Not compensated: Merck, Takeda, Genentech/Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): ACEA Biosciences, Arrys Therapeutics, AstraZeneca/Medimmune, Bayer (under Suki and not me), BMS, Celgene, Clovis Oncology, Exelixis, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Pharmacyclics, Xcovery; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Officer / Board of Directors: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). P.Y. Wen: Advisory / Consultancy: Agios, AstraZeneca, Beigene, Eli Lily, Genentech/Roche, Karyopharm, Kazia, MediciNova, Merck, Novartis, Oncoceutics, Sanofi-Aventis, VBI Vaccines, Tocagen; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Merck, Prime Oncology; Research grant / Funding (institution): Agios, AstraZeneca, Beigene, Eli Lily, Genentech/Roche, Karyopharm, Kazia, MediciNova, Merck, Novartis, Oncoceutics, Sanofi-Aventis, VBI Vaccines. P. Garrido Lopez: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche, MSD, BMS, Boerhinger Ingelheim, Pfizer, Abbvie, Guardant Health, Novartis, Lilly, AstraZeneca, Jansen, Sysmex, Blueprint Medicines, Takeda; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche, MSD, BMS, Pfizer, Novartis, Boerhinger Ingelheim, Rovi; Research grant / Funding (institution), Financial support for clinical trials: Roche, MSD, BMS, Takeda, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Pharmamar, Celgene, Sanofi, GSK, Theradex Oncology, BluePrint Medicines; Research grant / Funding (institution), Financial support for contracted research: Guardant Health, Sysmex. M. Majem: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche, MSD, AstraZeneca, Boehringer, Tesaro, Takeda, Pierre Fabre; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche, BMS, MSD, AstraZeneca, Boehringer, Hellsin, Pierre Fabre, Amgen; Research grant / Funding (self): BMS; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS, MSD, AstraZeneca, Lilly. M. McKeage: Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis, Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis, Pfizer, Roche. C. Yu: Honoraria (self): Roche, AstraZeneca, Ono pharma, Boehringer-Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche, AstraZeneca, Ono pharma, Boehringer-Ingelheim. F.K. Hurtado: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; Full / Part-time employment: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. P. Cazorla Arratia: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Full / Part-time employment: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Y. Song: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Restricted Stock Unit: Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation; Full / Part-time employment: Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation. F. Branle: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Novartis AG; Full / Part-time employment: Novartis AG. M. Shi: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Novartis; Full / Part-time employment: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. L.Q. Chow: Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Genentech, AstraZeneca/Medimmune, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics, Novartis, Dynavax Inc., Alkermes, Amgen, Sanofi-Genzyme, Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Genentech, AstraZeneca/Medimmune, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics, Novartis, Dynavax Inc. and Alkermes,Incyte, VentiRx and Lily/Imclone. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.Copyright © 2019 European Society for Medical Oncology