An open-label, multicenter, randomized phase Ib/II study of eribulin mesylate administered in combination with pemetrexed versus pemetrexed alone as second-line therapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION

New treatment options are needed for second-line therapy in patients with NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a phase Ib/II study in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC in whom 1 previous platinum-based chemotherapy regimen had failed. Fifteen patients were enrolled in a dose escalation of eribulin mesylate in combination with pemetrexed (E+P). In phase II (n = 80), E+P at the maximum tolerated dose was compared with P.

RESULTS

In phase Ib, the maximum tolerated dose of E+P was defined as eribulin 0.9 mg/m(2) with pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2)) each on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. In phase II, adverse events were comparable between groups. PFS and OS were similar between treatment groups. Median PFS was 21.4 weeks for E+P (n = 26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7-39.6) and 23.4 weeks for P (n = 29; 95% CI, 17.1-29.9), with a hazard ratio of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.6-1.7).

CONCLUSION

During phase Ib, E+P was tolerated only at a markedly lower dosing intensity relative to the eribulin monotherapy regimen approved for breast cancer and used in phase II studies of NSCLC. At the selected phase II dosing regimen, E+P was generally safe and well tolerated but provided no therapeutic advantage for the second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC.