Evaluation of the VeriStrat® serum protein test in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung treated with second-line afatinib or erlotinib in the phase III LUX-Lung 8 study. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gadgeel, Shirish; Goss, Glenwood; Soria, Jean-Charles; Felip, Enriqueta; Georgoulias, Vassilis; Lu, Shun; Cobo, Manuel; Syrigos, Konstantinos; Lee, Ki Hyeong; Göker, Erdem; Guclu, Salih Z.; Isla, Dolores; Morabito, Alessandro; Dupuis, Nicholas; Bühnemann, Claudia; Krämer, Nicole; Solca, Flavio; Ehrnrooth, Eva; Ardizzoni, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Lung cancer. Volume 109(2017)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: AE adverse event -- CI confidence interval -- DBS dried blood spot -- DCR disease control rate -- ECOG PS Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status -- EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor -- HER human epidermal growth factor receptor -- HR hazard ratio -- MALDI-TOF matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight -- MS mass spectrometry -- NSCLC non-small-cell lung cancer -- OR odds ratio -- ORR objective response rate -- OS overall survival -- PFS progression-free survival -- PROs patient-reported outcomes -- SCC squamous cell carcinoma -- TKI tyrosine kinase inhibitor -- VS-G VeriStrat 'Good' -- VS-P VeriStrat 'Poor'; Afatinib -- Erlotinib -- Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung -- LUX-lung 8 -- VeriStrat -- Biomarker; Lungs -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Lung Neoplasms -- Abstracts; Lung Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Poumons -- Cancer -- Périodiques; Lungs -- Cancer; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.99424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2017.05.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5002

Abstract

Highlights: Clinical utility of the VeriStrat serum protein test was assessed in LUX-Lung 8. Patients were classified as VeriStrat 'Good' (VS-G) or VeriStrat 'Poor' (VS-P). VS-G classification is associated with favorable survival outcomes versus VS-P. In VS-G patients, survival outcomes are superior with afatinib versus erlotinib. Abstract: Objectives: Identification of biomarkers associated with clinical benefit may be crucial in establishing optimal treatment choice for patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung after first-line chemotherapy. In this study, the ability of the VeriStrat serum protein test to predict differential clinical benefit with afatinib versus erlotinib, and the association of VeriStrat status with clinical outcomes irrespective of EGFR-TKI used, was assessed in a retrospective analysis of the phase III LUX-Lung 8 trial. Materials and methods: Pretreatment plasma samples were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Spectra were evaluated to assign a VeriStrat 'Good' (VS-G) or VeriStrat 'Poor' (VS-P) classification. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and other endpoints were assessed with respect to pretreatment VeriStrat status; OS was the primary efficacy variable. Results: Of 795 patients randomized in LUX-Lung 8, 675 were classified (VS-G: 412; VS-P: 263). In the VS-G group, OS was significantly longer with afatinib versus erlotinib (HR 0.79 [95% CI: 0.63–0.98]). In the VS-P group, there was no significant difference in OS between afatinib and erlotinib (HR 0.90 [0.70–1.16]). However, there was no interaction between VeriStrat classification and treatment group for OS ( p interaction = 0.5303). OS was significantly longer in VS-G versus VS-P patients, both in the overall VeriStrat-classified population (HR 0.41 [0.35–0.49]) and afatinib-treated patients (HR 0.40 [0.31–0.51]). Multivariate analysis showed that VeriStrat was an independent predictor of OS in afatinib-treated patients, regardless of ECOG PS or best response to first-line chemotherapy. Outcomes with other efficacy endpoints were similar. Conclusion: VS-G classification is strongly associated with favorable survival outcomes with either afatinib or erlotinib compared with VS-P classification. In VS-G patients, survival outcomes with afatinib are superior to those with erlotinib. VeriStrat classification may guide treatment decisions in patients with SCC of the lung. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01523587.