Neoadjuvant PD-1 Antibody Plus Apatinib or Chemotherapy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Immunotherapy with anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibodies has revolutionized the treatment of metastatic and advanced NSCLC, but its application in neoadjuvant setting has not been well established. Results from a pilot clinical study reported the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade. There are several neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NEOSTAR, LCMC3, NADIM, IMpower131) ongoing, and the preliminary results are reported in 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology, which show promising therapeutic prospect. However, the therapeutic response rate (major pathologic response \[MPR\]) are not so good (20% - 45%) for PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy. To improve the therapeutic response, the investigators design a multiple-canter, open-label, phase II trial for stage II-III potentially resectable (resectable and initially unresectale) NSCLC. The participants will receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor (camrelizumab) combined with antiangiogenic drug (apatinib) or platinum-based chemotherapy.

Detailed Description:

This is a multiple-canter, open-label, phase II trial, 2-4 cycles treatment will be planned as neo-adjuvant therapy for NSCLC participants in stage II-III.

Study design:

Participants: Newly diagnosed Resectable and Initially Unresectale II-III NSCLC without EGFR/ALK mutation.

Treatment:

Group A：camrelizumab 200 mg q3w i.v. for 2-4 cycles, platinum-based chemotherapy q3w i.v for 2-4 cycles before surgery.

Group B：camrelizumab 200 mg q3w i.v. for 2-4 cycles, apatinib 250mg qd po 3w/cycle for 2-4 cycles before surgery;

Endpoints:

Primary objectives are to assess MPR and safety. Secondary objective is to assess 2-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), OS etc.

Exploratory end point is to explore biomarkers.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Group A:

1. Aged 18-75 years;
2. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance-status score of 0 or 1;
3. Histological or cytological diagnosis of NSCLC by needle biopsy, and clinical stage II-III according to the TNM classification (8th edition) validated by radiological examination or EBUS;
4. At least 1 measurable lesion according to RECIST 1.1;
5. Life expectancy is at least 12 weeks;
6. Adequate hematological function, liver function and renal function:

   * Hemoglobin ≤ 90 g/L (which can be maintained or exceeded by blood transfusion);
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≤ 1.5 \*10\^9/L;
   * Platelet count ≤ 100 \* 10\^9/L;
   * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times of upper limit of normal (ULN);
   * Alanine glutamate transaminase (ALT), straw glutamate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5 \* ULN;
   * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 \* ULN, Creatinine clearance rate ≤ 60ml/min;
   * The international standardized ratio of prothrombin time (INR) ≤ 1.5 R in patients who have not received anticoagulation therapy, and the partial thrombin time (APTT) ≤ 1.5 \* ULN.
7. Without systemic metastasis (including M1a, M1b and M1c);
8. With the expectation of radical surgery therapy, or with the expectation of complete resection after treatment;
9. Patients with normal lung function can tolerate surgery;
10. The child-bearing female must undergo pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 72 hours before drug administrating and the result shall be negative. Reliable contraceptive measures, such as intrauterine device, contraceptive pill and condom, shall be adopted during the trial and within 90 days after the last dosage of the drug. The male participants whose partners are child-bearing shall use condom for contraception during the trial and within 30 days after completion of the trial;
11. Signed and dated informed consent.

Group B:

1. Aged 18-75 years;
2. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance-status score of 0 or 1;
3. Histological or cytological diagnosis of NSCLC by needle biopsy, and clinical stage II-III according to the TNM classification (8th edition) validated by radiological examination or EBUS;
4. Enough tumor samples from biopsy to testing PD-L1 expression level, and PD-L1 ≥ 1%
5. At least 1 measurable lesion according to RECIST 1.1;
6. Life expectancy is at least 12 weeks;
7. Adequate hematological function, liver function and renal function:

   * Hemoglobin ≤ 90 g/L (which can be maintained or exceeded by blood transfusion);
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≤ 1.5 \*10\^9/L;
   * Platelet count ≤ 100 \* 10\^9/L;
   * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times of upper limit of normal (ULN);
   * Alanine glutamate transaminase (ALT), straw glutamate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5 \* ULN;
   * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 \* ULN, Creatinine clearance rate ≤ 60ml/min;
   * The international standardized ratio of prothrombin time (INR) ≤ 1.5 R in patients who have not received anticoagulation therapy, and the partial thrombin time (APTT) ≤ 1.5 \* ULN.
8. Without systemic metastasis (including M1a, M1b and M1c);
9. With the expectation of radical surgery therapy, or with the expectation of complete resection after treatment;
10. Patients with normal lung function can tolerate surgery;
11. The child-bearing female must undergo pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 72 hours before drug administrating and the result shall be negative. Reliable contraceptive measures, such as intrauterine device, contraceptive pill and condom, shall be adopted during the trial and within 90 days after the last dosage of the drug. The male participants whose partners are child-bearing shall use condom for contraception during the trial and within 30 days after completion of the trial;
12. Signed and dated informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Group A:

1. The patient has undergone any systemic anti-cancer treatment for NSCLC, including surgical treatment, local radiotherapy, cytotoxic drug treatment, targeted drug treatment, immunotherapy or Chinese medicine treatment, etc. (excluding the malignant tumors that were resected radically and did not recurrent more than 5 years);
2. Non-squamous cell carcinoma with EGFR active mutation positive or ALK rearrangement;
3. The patient suffered from other cancers (except cervical carcinoma in situ, cured basal cell carcinoma and bladder epithelial tumor \[including Ta and Tis\]) within 5 years before the enrollment;
4. The patient suffers from any active autoimmune disease or have the history of autoimmune disease, such as uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, pituitary inflammation, vasculitis, myocarditis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism (can be included after hormone replacement therapy), tuberculosis; Note: The patients with complete remission of childhood asthma and without any interventions in adult life could be included. The patients with skin diseases (like vitiligo, psoriasis or alopecia) who do not need systematic therapy could be included.
5. Suffering or having the history of pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, radiological pneumonia, drug-induced pneumonia, radiologically confirmed active pneumonia, or severe impairment of lung function;
6. Participants who were systemically treated with corticosteroids (prednisone or other corticosteroids \>10 mg/ day) or other immunosuppressive agents within 2 weeks prior to first administration. In the absence of active autoimmune disease, inhaled or topical corticosteroids and adrenal hormone replacement therapy with a dose of less than 10 mg/ day of prednisone are permitted;
7. Allergy to the test drug;
8. The patient is a carrier of active hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV;
9. Pregnancy or breast-feeding women; child-bearing participants who could not or are unwilling to take contraceptive measures.
10. Patients with eurological or psychiatric disorders history were lack of treatment compliance;
11. Other situations in which investigators thought the patients not suit to be included.

Group B:

1. The patient has undergone any systemic anti-cancer treatment for NSCLC, including surgical treatment, local radiotherapy, cytotoxic drug treatment, targeted drug treatment, immunotherapy or Chinese medicine treatment, etc. (excluding the malignant tumors that were resected radically and did not recurrent more than 5 years);
2. Non-squamous cell carcinoma with EGFR active mutation positive or ALK rearrangement;
3. The patient suffered from other cancers (except cervical carcinoma in situ, cured basal cell carcinoma and bladder epithelial tumor \[including Ta and Tis\]) within 5 years before the enrollment;
4. The patient suffers from any active autoimmune disease or have the history of autoimmune disease, such as uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, pituitary inflammation, vasculitis, myocarditis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism (can be included after hormone replacement therapy), tuberculosis; Note: The patients with complete remission of childhood asthma and without any interventions in adult life could be included. The patients with skin diseases (like vitiligo, psoriasis or alopecia) who do not need systematic therapy could be included.
5. Suffering or having the history of pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, radiological pneumonia, drug-induced pneumonia, radiologically confirmed active pneumonia, or severe impairment of lung function;
6. Participants who were systemically treated with corticosteroids (prednisone or other corticosteroids \>10 mg/ day) or other immunosuppressive agents within 2 weeks prior to first administration. In the absence of active autoimmune disease, inhaled or topical corticosteroids and adrenal hormone replacement therapy with a dose of less than 10 mg/ day of prednisone are permitted;
7. Imaging (CT or MRI) shows that the tumor has invaded or blurred the boundary with the great vessels;
8. The participants who suffered thrombus events, such as stroke (including temporary ischemic attack, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction), deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism;
9. Having clinically significant bleeding symptoms or had definite bleeding tendency, such as gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding ulcer, or were receiving thrombolytic therapy or anticoagulant therapy within 3 months before enrollment;
10. Having symptoms of obvious hemoptysis or daily hemoptysis of 2.5ml or more within 1 month before enrollment;
11. Participants with hypertension and unable to obtain good control with antihypertensive drugs (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg); Grade II or larger myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction, poorly controlled arrhythmia (including QTc interphase, male ≥ 450ms, female ≥ 470ms); According to NYHA, grade Ⅲ \~ Ⅳ cardiac insufficiency, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50%;
12. The participants have undergone other major systemic operations or suffered from severe trauma within 2 months before the enrollment;
13. Urinary protein ≥ ++, or urinary protein ≥1g at 24h or severe liver and kidney dysfunction;
14. Uncontrollable pleural effusion, pericardial effusion or ascites requiring repeated drainage;
15. Allergy to the test drug;
16. The patient is a carrier of active hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV;
17. Pregnancy or breast-feeding women; child-bearing participants who could not or are unwilling to take contraceptive measures.
18. Patients with eurological or psychiatric disorders history were lack of treatment compliance;
19. Other situations in which investigators thought the patients not suit to be included.