Phase III trial of irinotecan/cisplatin compared with etoposide/cisplatin in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: clinical and pharmacogenomic results from SWOG S0124.
OBJECTIVE
Irinotecan plus cisplatin (IP) improved survival over etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) in Japanese patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (E-SCLC). To confirm those results and discern the potential role of population-related pharmacogenomics (PG) in outcomes, we conducted a large randomized trial of identical design to the Japanese trial in North American patients with E-SCLC.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to IP (irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15; cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) day 1, every 4 weeks) or EP (etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 3; cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) day 1, every 3 weeks). Blood specimens for genomic DNA analysis were collected before random assignment in 169 patients.


RESULTS
Of 671 patients, 651 were eligible (324 and 327 patients in the IP and EP arms, respectively). Response rates with IP and EP were 60% and 57%, respectively (P = .56). Median progression-free survival for IP and EP was 5.8 and 5.2 months, respectively (P = .07). Median overall survival for IP and EP was 9.9 and 9.1 months, respectively (P = .71). Severe diarrhea was more common with IP (19% v 3%); severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were higher with EP versus IP (68% v 33% and 15% v 4%, respectively). PG analysis showed that ABCB1 (C3435T)T/T (membrane transport) was associated with IP-related diarrhea; UGT1A1 (G-3156A)A/A (drug metabolism) was associated with IP-related neutropenia.


CONCLUSIONS
This large North American trial failed to confirm the previously reported survival benefit observed with IP in Japanese patients. Both regimens produced comparable efficacy, with less hematologic and greater gastrointestinal toxicity with IP. These results emphasize the potential importance of PG in interpreting trials of cancer therapy.
University of California Davis Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. primo.lara@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Primo N
PN
Lara
Ronald
R
Natale
John
J
Crowley
Heinz Josef
HJ
Lenz
Mary W
MW
Redman
Jane E
JE
Carleton
James
J
Jett
Corey J
CJ
Langer
J Philip
JP
Kuebler
Shaker R
SR
Dakhil
Kari
K
Chansky
David R
DR
Gandara
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality
C513055:ABCB1 protein, human; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D005047:Etoposide; D000077146:Irinotecan; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin