First long-term results on efficacy and safety of long-acting pasireotide in combination with everolimus in patients with advanced carcinoids (NET) of the lung/thymus: Phase II LUNA trial

Abstract

Background: Everolimus (EVE) improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients (pts) with progressive non-functioning thoracic and digestive advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The LUNA trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of long-acting pasireotide (PAS) and EVE alone or in combination in pts with progressive bronchial or thymic carcinoids. Core phase results for primary endpoint (PFS) and secondary endpoints at 9 and 12 months (mo) were previously published. Cumulative data results at the end of the extension phase are presented here. Methods: LUNA was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, 3-arm, phase II trial. Adult pts with carcinoids of lung/thymus were randomized (1:1:1) to receive either PAS (60 mg/mo i.m.) or EVE (10 mg/day orally) or PAS + EVE. The key secondary endpoints assessed in this extension phase, including all the patients who were still not progressing at 12 months, were PFS, duration of biochemical response (DBR), and biochemical PFS (BPFS). Results: Of the total 124 pts included in the core phase, 41 pts with a median age of 61 years entered the extension phase including PAS (12), EVE (14) and PAS + EVE (15). Lung was the primary site of cancer in 95.1% and 82.9% had non-functioning tumors. Surgery/local or regional therapy was the preferred prior treatment in 63.4% pts. Disease progression was the primary reason for discontinuation among 3 arms with 65.9% in overall extension phase; no pts in PAS arm discontinued due to adverse events (AEs). Mean relative dose intensity (RDI) was higher for PAS (95.6% alone and 90.4% in combination) when compared to EVE (76.6% alone and 72.4% in combination); 38.1% pts in the EVE arm and 43.9% pts in the combination arm with EVE had RDI <70%. PAS +EVE combination showed clinical benefit in terms of PFS and BPFS compared to PAS and EVE alone as shown in Table. At least one dose reduction of PAS or EVE was reported in >50% pts. Most common AEs of any grade regardless of the study drug in PAS +EVE arm were hyperglycemia (87.8%), diarrhea (80.5%), and weight loss (58.5%), while stomatitis was reported in 34.1%. Twelve deaths were reported during the study and up to 56 days from last study treatment dose. Duration of exposure and efficacy. Conclusions: Mature median PFS and BPFS data suggest a benefit of PAS+EVE combination. The safety and tolerability profile of PAS and EVE alone or in combination were consistent with prior experience of these treatments in the oncology setting, with no new safety signals being reported during the study. Post-hoc prognostic studies are ongoing.