Conditions: Lung Cancer
Keywords: recurrent non-small cell lung cancer stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer stage IV non-small cell lung cancer adenosquamous cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma of the lung
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 110
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
RATIONALE: Pemetrexed disodium and sorafenib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Sorafenib may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving pemetrexed disodium together with sorafenib may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying pemetrexed disodium and sorafenib to see how well they work compared with pemetrexed disodium alone as second-line therapy in treating patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Detailed description:
OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* Compare the progression-free survival of patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with pemetrexed disodium with or without sorafenib tosylate as second-line therapy.

Secondary

* Compare the overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.
* Compare the tumor response rate and duration of response in patients treated with these regimens.
* Compare the toxicity profile of these regimens in these patients.

Tertiary

* Assess polymorphisms and gene expression in circulating peripheral mononuclear cells and circulating tumor cells of pemetrexed disodium target genes and genes encoding enzymes involved in the transport, activation, and inactivation of pemetrexed disodium.
* Correlate haplotype-tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms or gene expression levels with intracellular levels of pemetrexed disodium polyglutamates, toxicity, and/or efficacy of pemetrexed disodium.
* Assess the expression and polymorphisms in the target genes (i.e., TS, DHFR, GARFT) and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (as antibodies become available) in paraffin-embedded tissue and compare results to those obtained in circulating tumor tissue, correlating results with response.
* Correlate predictive markers of hypertension (e.g. pharmacogenetics, vascular endothelial growth factor \[VEGF\]-A, sVEGF receptor-1, and ADMA) with clinical toxicity and outcomes.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to ECOG performance status (0 vs 1) and North Central Cancer Treatment Group membership. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Arm I: Patients receive oral sorafenib tosylate twice daily on days 1-21 and pemetrexed disodium IV over 10 minutes on day 1.
* Arm II: Patients receive pemetrexed disodium IV over 10 minutes on day 1. In both arms, courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Blood and tissue samples are collected for pharmacokinetic analysis and research studies. Gene expression assays and polymorphism studies (e.g., using polymerase chain reaction) of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells are conducted for reduced folate carrier, multidrug resistance-associated protein, folate receptor, BCRP, folylpolyglutamate synthase, MTHFR, methionine synthase, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, TS, dihydrofolate reductase, GARFT, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, angiotensinogen, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF receptor. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunohistochemistry are also conducted.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for up to 5 years.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients receive oral sorafenib tosylate twice daily on days 1-21 and pemetrexed disodium IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. arm 2: Patients receive pemetrexed disodium IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Interventions: intervention 1: pemetrexed disodium intervention 2: sorafenib tosylate
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: given IV intervention 2: given orally

Protocol document: