Phase III study of canakinumab (ACZ885) as adjuvant therapy in patients with surgically resected NSCLC

Introduction Preclinical and clinical data suggest that cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β can promote angiogenesis and tumor growth, and are essential to tumor invasiveness. Canakinumab (ACZ885) is a high-affinity human IgGκ anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody approved for patients with various IL-1–driven auto-inflammatory diseases. In the Phase III Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS) in patients with atherosclerosis, canakinumab was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of fatal and non-fatal lung cancer in patients with increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. ACZ885T2301 (NCT03447769) is evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant canakinumab versus placebo in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods This Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is enrolling patients (≥ 18 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≤ 1) with completely resected (R0) American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) v.8 stages II−IIIA and IIIB (T > 5 cm and N2) NSCLC, who have completed standard-of-care adjuvant treatments, including cisplatin-based chemotherapy and mediastinal radiation therapy (if applicable). Prior treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not permitted. Approximately 1500 patients will be randomized 1 : 1 to receive canakinumab (200 mg every 3 weeks [Q3W], subcutaneous [s. c.]) or placebo (Q3W, s. c.) on Day 1 of 21-day cycles for 18 cycles or until disease recurrence, unacceptable toxicity, treatment discontinuation at the discretion of the investigator or patient, death, or loss to follow-up. Randomization will be stratified by AJCC/UICC v.8 stage, tumor histology, and region.

The primary objective is to compare disease-free survival (DFS) in the canakinumab versus placebo arms, as determined by local investigator assessment. Secondary objectives include a comparison of the two treatment groups with respect to overall survival (key secondary objective), lung cancer-specific survival, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of canakinumab, and patient-reported outcomes. Enrolment is ongoing.