Abstract CT005: AEGEAN: A phase 3 trial of neoadjuvant durvalumab + chemotherapy followed by adjuvant durvalumab in patients with resectable NSCLC
Authors: Heymach John V. , Harpole David , Mitsudomi Tetsuya , Taube Janis M. , Galffy Gabriella , Hochmair Maximilian , Winder Thomas , Zukov Ruslan , Garbaos Gabriel , Gao Shugeng , Kuroda Hiroaki , You Jian , Lee Kang-Yun , Antonuzzo Lorenzo , Aperghis Mike , Doherty Gary J. , Mann Helen , Fouad Tamer M. , Reck Martin 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background: Recent trials have demonstrated the clinical benefit of immunotherapy in either the neoadjuvant or adjuvant resectable (R) NSCLC setting. AEGEAN (NCT03800134) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial assessing neoadjuvant durvalumab (D) + chemotherapy (CT) followed by surgery (Sx) and adjuvant D in patients (pts) with R-NSCLC.
Methods: Adults with treatment (Tx)-naïve R-NSCLC (stage II-IIIB[N2]; AJCC 8th ed) and ECOG PS 0/1 were randomized (1:1) to receive D 1500 mg or PBO IV + platinum-based CT (every 3 weeks [Q3W] for 4 cycles) before Sx, then further D 1500 mg or PBO IV (Q4W, up to 12 cycles). Pts were stratified by disease stage (II vs III) and PD-L1 tumor cell expression (&lt;1% vs ≥1%, Ventana SP263). Pts with documented EGFR/ALK aberrations were excluded from the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population for efficacy analyses. The primary endpoints were pathological complete response (pCR), evaluated centrally, and event-free survival (EFS; using RECIST v1.1), evaluated by BICR. Safety was assessed in all pts who received ≥1 study Tx dose.
Results: Between Jan 2, 2019, and Apr 19, 2022, 802 pts were randomized to the ITT population (n=740 in the mITT population) of whom 799 received Tx (D arm, n=400; PBO arm, n=399). Baseline characteristics were largely balanced (mITT). Overall, 84.7% in the D arm and 87.2% in PBO arm completed 4 cycles of platinum-doublet CT and 77.6% and 76.7%, respectively, completed Sx (mITT). As of Nov 10, 2022 (data cutoff), median EFS follow-up in censored pts was 11.7 months (mITT). The pCR rate was significantly higher and EFS significantly prolonged in the D vs PBO arms (mITT) (Table). In the safety analysis set, maximum grade 3/4 any-cause AEs occurred in 42.3% vs 43.4% in the D and PBO arms, respectively, during the overall Tx period.
Conclusions: The AEGEAN trial met both of its primary endpoints of improved pCR and EFS. Perioperative D plus neoadjuvant CT was associated with a manageable safety profile.
Clinical trial identification: NCT03800134 (release date: January 11, 2019) Endpoint D arm PBO arm Tx effect P value pCR n/N: 63/366 (17.2%) n/N: 16/374 (4.3%) Difference in pCR (95% CI), %: 13.0 (8.7-17.6)a 0.000036 (assessed at IA)b EFS n events/N: 98/366 (26.8%) n events/N: 138/374 (36.9%) HR (95% CI): 0.68 (0.53-0.88)d 0.003902e Median (95% CI), months: NR (31.9-NR)c Median (95% CI), months: 25.9 (18.9-NR)c aCIs by stratified Miettinen and Nurminen’s method. bStatistical significance was achieved at the IA (402 pts; data cutoff, Jan 14, 2022); no testing was performed at FA. The statistically significant p-value of 0.000036 was based on a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. cKaplan-Meier method. dStratified Cox proportional hazards model. eStratified log-rank test. CI, confidence interval; FA, final analysis; HR, hazard ratio; IA, interim analysis; NR, not reached.
Citation Format: John V. Heymach, David Harpole, Tetsuya Mitsudomi, Janis M. Taube, Gabriella Galffy, Maximilian Hochmair, Thomas Winder, Ruslan Zukov, Gabriel Garbaos, Shugeng Gao, Hiroaki Kuroda, Jian You, Kang-Yun Lee, Lorenzo Antonuzzo, Mike Aperghis, Gary J. Doherty, Helen Mann, Tamer M. Fouad, Martin Reck. AEGEAN: A phase 3 trial of neoadjuvant durvalumab + chemotherapy followed by adjuvant durvalumab in patients with resectable NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT005.