Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NI) versus chemotherapy plus nivolumab (CN) in squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC): The SQUINT trial

Abstract

Background: Treatment landscape for patients with advanced NSCLC is rapidly evolving, with recent randomized phase III trials demonstrating superiority of chemo-immuno combinations versus chemotherapy alone. Role of chemo-free combinations, including NI, is under investigation with limited available data. Aim of the present trial is to investigate outcome of SqCLC patients when treated with NI or CN. Method(s): SQUINT (NCT03823625) is an open-label, randomized, parallel, non-comparative phase II study designed to assess the efficacy of NI (Arm A) or CN (Arm B) in patients with advanced, metastatic SqCLC. Eligibility requires age >=18 years, histologically confirmed stage IV or recurrent stage IIIB SqCLC, p63+/p40+ and TTF- tumour tissue, availability of PD-L1 status, no prior systemic therapy, ECOG performance status 0-1, adequate organ functions. Key exclusion criteria include concomitant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, prior treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, untreated brain metastases, other serious illness or medical condition potentially interfering with the study or with NI administration. Patients are randomly assigned 1:1 to receive N 360 mg Q3W plus I 1 mg/kg Q6W (Arm A) or plus platinum-based chemotherapy up to 6 cycles plus nivolumab 360 mg Q3W (Arm B), and stratified by PD-L1 expression (<1% versus >=1%), presence of bone metastases (yes/no) and liver metastases (yes/no). In both arms, immunotherapy is given until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, patient refusal and in any case for up to 24 months. Primary endpoint is 1-year overall survival (OS) rate in Arm A and B. Secondary endpoints include: response rate (RR), duration of response (DoR), median progression free survival (PFS) and median OS in Arm A and B, and according to predefined stratification factors. Sample size has been calculated assuming for each arm a minimum acceptable 1-year OS rate of 40% and an auspicated 1-year OS rate of 60%, a power of 90% and a one side significant level of 0.05. Based on such premises, the total number of patients required for the study is 112. Result(s): At the time of this analysis a total of 11 Italian Centers are recruiting and 25 subjects have been enrolled. Conclusion(s): We expect to conclude enrolment by January 2020. Keywords: SqCLC, nivolumab, ipilimumabCopyright © 2019